Story perspectives

Babiito Clan Names Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma Omukama

By Drooid · Sep 12, 2026, 10:13 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Prince Edward Appointed

The Babiito clan of Tooro Kingdom announced Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new Omukama.
Princess Ruth Komuntale and Queen Mother Best Kemigisa rejected the appointment, citing a 2022 will naming Oyo’s son heir.
Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire called for calm and said the will, customs and law must be examined.
President Yoweri Museveni urged a unity-focused resolution.
Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu warned that grief-filled words could cause division.

Summary

Chief Priest Ritual

Security agencies deployed traffic control points and restricted vehicle access around the cathedral and burial site.
Organisers limited entry to the burial grounds, allowing only authorised vehicles and delegations.
Omusuna chief priest will cast nine coffee berries into King Oyo’s grave during rites.
Vendors sold T-shirts with King Oyo’s portrait outside Karuziika Palace.
Hotel rates in Fort Portal have reportedly doubled since dignitaries arrived for the burial.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, Uganda’s new constitution formally reinstated the Tooro Kingdom after its 1967 abolition, granting it constitutional recognition. The 1995 Cultural Institutions Act listed thirteen kingdoms, allocating each a budget of 10 million Ugandan shillings for ceremonial duties. Today, the Tooro succession crisis mirrors that 1995 framework, as Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma’s claim clashes with Princess Ruth Komuntale’s 2022 will, prompting President Museveni and Archbishop Kaziimba to intervene. The dispute has spurred security cordons around Fort Portal’s Karuziika Palace, doubled hotel rates, and revived debates on the constitutional limits of royal authority.

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Prince Edward Appointed

The Babiito clan of Tooro Kingdom announced Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new Omukama.
Princess Ruth Komuntale and Queen Mother Best Kemigisa rejected the appointment, citing a 2022 will naming Oyo’s son heir.
Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire called for calm and said the will, customs and law must be examined.
President Yoweri Museveni urged a unity-focused resolution.
Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu warned that grief-filled words could cause division.

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