Fort Portal, Uganda (Running Africa) — Former television journalist Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma has been crowned king of Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom, taking the throne following a contested succession process after the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

Kijanangoma, 56, was enthroned in Fort Portal on Tuesday after being selected by a 21-member succession committee of the Babiito royal clan.

He assumed the royal name Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, becoming the 13th monarch of the Batooro people.

Former UBC Journalist Becomes Tooro King

Before his selection, Kijanangoma worked as a journalist, including as a news anchor and editor at the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.

He is a cousin of the late King Oyo.

The Babiito clan said Kijanangoma was selected following its traditional succession procedures, including consultations and the vetting of potential candidates.

His coronation formally installed him as monarch, but a dispute involving members of the late king’s family remains unresolved.

King Oyo’s Family Challenges Tooro Succession

Queen Mother Best Kemigisa and other members of Oyo’s family have challenged Kijanangoma’s selection.

They maintain that the late king left a young son and a written will identifying the child as his successor.

The Babiito clan disputes that position, saying the child was not recognized through its traditional succession process.

An attempt to legally halt Kijanangoma’s coronation was unsuccessful, although a separate court challenge over the succession remains pending.

Museveni Attends Tooro Coronation

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni attended the coronation in Fort Portal, where he called for the preservation of Tooro’s culture and indigenous knowledge.

Uganda’s traditional kingdoms do not exercise constitutional political authority, but they continue to play significant cultural and traditional roles within their communities.

Kijanangoma has pledged to use his background in journalism and public service to promote unity and development across Tooro as he begins his reign amid the unresolved succession dispute.