DNK International By Our Correspondent, Fort Portal,Uganda
At 56, His Majesty Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I has made a remarkable journey from the television newsroom to the royal throne, becoming the new Omukama of Tooro Kingdom.
He succeeded his late cousin, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
Born Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma in 1970 and raised in Kidukuru village in Fort Portal, Nyabongo comes from the Babiito royal clan.
He is the son of the late Prince Christopher Kijanangoma, a grandson of former Tooro King George David Rukidi III and cousin to the late King Oyo.
Nyabongo attended Kinyamasika Primary School before proceeding to St Leo’s College Kyegobe.
He later joined Makerere University, where he studied Mass Communication and graduated in 1999, setting the foundation for a career that would span more than two decades in broadcasting and journalism.
His professional life was largely spent away from the palace.
He worked in broadcasting in Rwanda before returning to Uganda, where he became a journalist, news anchor and editor at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC).
He worked at UBC for about 12 years, becoming a familiar face to Ugandans through the broadcaster’s news bulletins and editorial programmes.
During his coronation speech early this week, he specifically thanked the UBC management and staff for the years he spent with the national broadcaster.
His elevation to the throne followed the death of King Oyo on August 27, 2026, at the age of 34.
Oyo had ruled Tooro for 31 years after becoming king at just three years old.
Nyabongo’s selection, however, was not without controversy.
A 21 member committee of the Babiito royal clan selected him after considering potential successors.
His selection was challenged by members of Oyo’s immediate family, including Queen Mother Best Kemigisa and Princess Ruth Komuntale, who said the late king had left a will naming a young son as his heir.
The alleged child has not been publicly presented, while members of the Babiito clan said the succession process followed traditional procedures.
The dispute even reached court, with applicants seeking to stop the September 29 coronation and compel disclosure of information concerning the alleged son.
Their attempt to obtain an interim order stopping the ceremony failed, although reports indicated that the substantive succession case could continue.
Another potential contender, Prince George Desmond Kamurasi, a UK-based footballer and member of the royal family, reportedly declined the throne, clearing the way for Nyabongo’s selection.
Despite the dispute, Nyabongo underwent the traditional enthronement rites and was formally crowned at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni presiding over the ceremony.
In his first major address as king, Nyabongo promised to make the kingdom inclusive and focused on the welfare of its people.
He said the kingdom would work to fight household poverty, encourage parents to keep children in school, support young people pursuing further education and improve opportunities for university graduates.
He also pledged to promote culture and traditions, protect forests, wetlands and rivers and work with religious leaders, elders, clans, other kingdoms and the central government within the constitutional limits governing traditional institutions.
One of his most memorable declarations was: “The kingdom of Tooro belongs to the people and must work for the people of Tooro.”
He also told his subjects: “Karuziika is open, come let us build Tooro.”
Earlier, after being selected, he told his subjects that he wanted to restore Tooro to its former glory, adding that although he had been enthroned as king, he could not work alone and would need the cooperation of his people.
Nyabongo is married to Queen Rebecca Amoding Rukidi, who stood beside him during the coronation and church service.
His rise therefore represents an unusual transition from journalism to traditional leadership.
A man who spent years asking questions,pursuing stories and delivering news to the public now finds himself responsible for preserving the cultural identity of one of Uganda’s historic kingdoms while attempting to unite a royal institution that has emerged from one of its most contentious succession battles in recent years.
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🗓️ [Daily News Kenya-International@October 30,2026]
