A news anchor and editor from Uganda's national television station has been crowned the new king of the "Toro Kingdom" amid disputes over the succession, following the death of King Oyo Nyimba at the age of 34, who left no publicly known heir.
Prince Edward Rukidi Yabonga, formerly a news anchor and editor at Uganda's national television, was installed as the new king of the Toro Kingdom in western Uganda yesterday (29 Sep). He chose the royal name "Edward Rukidi Nyabongo" after undergoing traditional coronation ceremonies throughout the night before entering the palace and appearing officially before his subjects.
The coronation ceremony was held in Fort Portal, a remote city in western Uganda near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Thousands of people traveled to attend the event, while many more followed the live television broadcast.
King Nyabongo pledged in a brief speech to serve as a unifying figure for all people. Before ascending the throne, he told Ugandan media that royal heritage and bloodline must go hand in hand with discipline and dedication to work. His family never taught him to view royalty as a privilege but as a duty to be prepared for responsibility.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who attended the ceremony, urged traditional leaders to play a role in promoting local languages.
Uganda's traditional kingdoms were abolished in the 1960s after independence from Britain, as the then-president sought to unify the country. They were restored in 1993. Currently, traditional leaders have no official governing power and are legally barred from partisan political activities, but they remain highly influential as custodians of culture and customs among the people.
King Nyabongo's accession followed the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV from cancer in August at age 34. He left no publicly acknowledged heir. Senior relatives from the Babito royal family, which rules Toro, selected Nyabongo from qualified princes, although he was not among the first in the line of succession.
However, King Oyo Nyimba's mother, Best Kemigisa, opposed this decision, stating that the late king's written will was not followed in choosing the new monarch.
Kemigisa said King Oyo Nyimba had a young son whose identity would be revealed at the appropriate time. These claims have raised questions about the legitimacy of Nyabongo's coronation and the Babito family's decision to select him.
Local media reported conflicts during King Oyo Nyimba's funeral on 12 September, including brief disputes over the care of the king's body. The identity of the son mentioned by Kemigisa has not been disclosed, but numerous images claiming to show "Baby Oyo" have circulated widely on social media, giving hope to followers of the late king.
Prominent Ugandan political analyst Nicholas Sengoba said the selection of Nyabongo reflects the Babito family's adherence to kingdom traditions, even if the decision may not be accepted by everyone.
King Oyo Nyimba ascended the throne in 1995 at just three years old after the death of his father. He was beloved by hundreds of thousands and was informally known as the world's youngest king.
During his childhood coronation, King Oyo Nyimba underwent several traditional rites, including visiting the royal tomb to perform an adulthood ritual by successfully throwing nine coffee beans into his father's grave.
Throughout his reign, King Oyo Nyimba attracted attention from world leaders he met at national events, including former South African President Nelson Mandela. Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi also had close ties with the Toro royal family, visiting Uganda multiple times and supporting King Oyo Nyimba and his mother for years before Gaddafi's death in October 2011.
After ascending the throne, King Oyo Nyimba was under the care of a regency council appointed by the kingdom until he reached adulthood at age 18.