Journalist crowned king in Uganda after bitter succession dispute
Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma has been crowned the new king of Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom, taking over the throne following the death of the kingdom’s long-serving monarch, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
The 56-year-old new monarch was already a familiar figure in Uganda, having spent more than two decades working as a journalist, broadcaster and editor with the state broadcaster.
His elevation to the throne, however, has attracted considerable attention because of a dispute over the succession.
Tooro is one of Uganda’s four officially recognised traditional kingdoms. King Oyo had ruled the kingdom for 31 years after ascending the throne in 1995 at the age of three, following the death of his father. He died last month from cancer at the age of 34.
Kijanangoma’s coronation featured a series of traditional rituals that began around midnight. He was required to perform various ceremonies and walk about four kilometres to the Karuziika royal palace, where he was formally crowned.
Tooro Kingdom Information Minister Charles Mwanguhya said a mock fight would follow the coronation to symbolise the challenges associated with becoming king. Kijanangoma would then receive blessings from members of the Babiito royal clan.
His selection, however, has been contested. According to members of the royal family, tradition required a recognised son of the late King Oyo to succeed him. They said Oyo had left behind a young son and a will indicating that the child should inherit the throne.
The identity of the alleged son has not been publicly established, and the child was not recognised by the 21-member Babiito clan committee responsible for selecting the new king. The committee instead chose Kijanangoma.
Queen Best Kemigisa, the late King Oyo’s mother, argued that her son’s wishes should have been respected. However, the succession committee maintained that its decision followed Tooro’s established customs and traditions.
The dispute has left Kemigisa and some members of the royal family unhappy with Kijanangoma’s selection.
Kemigisa described the development as deeply painful, particularly because the coronation celebrations took place shortly after her son’s death. She also said Oyo’s alleged son, who was in Texas in the United States, had been expected to return to Uganda but could not do so amid tensions surrounding the succession.
The Tooro Kingdom’s authorities, however, have questioned the claim that King Oyo left behind a son, noting that the child has never been formally presented to the kingdom.
According to Mwanguhya, the crown has therefore passed to another branch of the ruling Babiito clan. Both Kijanangoma and the late King Oyo are descendants of King George David Matthew Kamurasi Rukidi III, who ruled Tooro from 1928 to 1965.
Kijanangoma was one of several individuals considered for the throne. Another candidate, Prince George Desmond Kamurasi, a footballer and captain and goalkeeper of South East Dons in the UK, reportedly declined the position because of other commitments.
Following his selection, Kijanangoma pledged to make the royal palace accessible to the people and prioritise unity and development. He also called for cooperation from the people of Tooro, saying he could not lead the kingdom alone.
Uganda’s traditional kings do not exercise formal political authority, but they retain considerable cultural influence and command strong loyalty among their communities.
The country has four main traditional kingdoms, with Buganda being the largest and most prominent. The kingdoms were abolished in 1967 before President Yoweri Museveni’s government restored them in the 1990s as part of efforts to promote cultural identity and national unity.
The government supported the Babiito clan’s decision to select Kijanangoma. Attorney General Sam Mayanja said the kingdom had been cleared to proceed with the coronation because no formal complaint had been filed against the new king.
President Museveni attended the coronation, while his son and military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, also publicly expressed support for Kijanangoma.
Kijanangoma’s royal heritage is reflected in his name. His father, the first person to bear the name Kijanangoma, was born in the same year King Rukidi III ascended the throne. The name means “the one who comes with the royal drum.”
Born in 1970, Kijanangoma grew up in Kidukuru village in Fort Portal, about 300 kilometres from Kampala. He later moved away to pursue his education and obtained a degree in mass communication from Makerere University in 1999.
He went on to build a broadcasting career spanning more than 20 years, working in Uganda and neighbouring Rwanda, including with the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.
His extensive experience as a journalist brought him into contact with political leaders and exposed him to national affairs, experience he now says he hopes to use in his new role.
After becoming king, Kijanangoma said he intended to draw on the relationships he built during his 21 years in journalism to secure opportunities and benefits for the people of Tooro.
His mother, Assimwe Yusta Kijanangoma, said she believed her son was prepared for the responsibilities of kingship, noting that he had been raised with strong ties to the kingdom’s traditions.
She described him as calm and disciplined, saying he rarely responds aggressively even when provoked.
While expressing pride in her son’s new position, she acknowledged that his accession came with mixed emotions, particularly because he was succeeding a monarch she described as a great man.
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