Prince Edward Kijanangoma Rukidi has been named the next King of the Tooro Kingdom, following the passing of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. The announcement was made this evening by the Babiito clan leaders at the Karuziika Palace.
Msgr Isiah Mayombo read the announcement on behalf of Babiito at the palace in the presence of the Babiito committee of 21 members. According to Mayombo, the new king had been elected by the General Meeting of the Ababiito clan to identify a suitable candidate for the Tooro throne.
In a resolution signed by 19 members of the committee, the members said they had undertaken consultations and due diligence before settling on Prince Kijanangoma.
“Having been elected by the General Meeting of Ababiito Clan to elect the suitable candidate for the throne of Tooro upon the demise of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, aware that the authority to elect the king of Tooro lies with the Ababiito clan, and sitting together with and under the leadership of Omujwera Musuuga, head of the Ababiito clan, and having undertaken due diligence, consultation and adequate consideration, do hereby resolve,” the statement reads in part.
The committee resolved that Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, son of the late Prince Christopher Paul Kijanangoma and grandson of the late Omukama George David Rukidi III, be enthroned as the new Omukama of Tooro. The committee said the enthronement would be conducted in accordance with the traditions and customs of the Tooro Kingdom.
The announcement comes days after the death of King Oyo, who died on August 27, 2026, bringing to an end his reign as the Omukama of Tooro. Prince Edward Kijanangoma now emerges as the candidate endorsed by the succession committee to take over the throne.
The announcement, however, comes at a sensitive time for the kingdom, with succession arrangements expected to attract significant attention from members of the royal family, the Ababito clan, and Tooro subjects. The succession committee said its decision was based on consultations and its mandate to identify a suitable successor following the death of King Oyo.
The formal enthronement of the new Omukama is expected to follow the kingdom’s established cultural traditions and procedures. The kingdom and the nation will now turn their attention to the coronation ceremony, which will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Tooro Kingdom.
