Tooro King-Designate Edward Kijanangoma Unveils Agenda on Unity, Education and Scholarships

Tooro King-designate Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma has outlined his proposed agenda for the kingdom, placing unity, education, scholarships, partnerships and the continuation of development projects initiated by the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV at the centre of his plans.

Kijanangoma, who was selected by Babiito elders as their choice to succeed the late King Oyo, made the remarks in his first address to a select group of elders.

His proposed agenda comes at a time when the Tooro succession remains contested, with questions surrounding the late king’s will and the legitimacy of the succession process yet to be resolved.

Kijanangoma Says He Was Not the First Choice

In his address, Kijanangoma acknowledged the circumstances surrounding his selection, saying he was not initially considered the first choice for the throne.

He explained that the succession committee had first approached Prince Kamurasi, who reportedly declined to take up the role.

According to Kijanangoma, the responsibility eventually fell on him, which he described as part of God’s plan.

He said he was now prepared to serve Tooro and work toward restoring the kingdom’s image despite the disagreements that have accompanied the succession process.

Tooro King-Designate Calls for Unity

Kijanangoma acknowledged that the death, burial and succession of King Oyo had been accompanied by disagreements and tension.

However, he urged members of the kingdom to put the disputes behind them and focus on unity.

He said he intends to reach out to the Babiito royal clan and other clans across Tooro in an effort to bring the kingdom together.

Kijanangoma pointed to the unity within the Buganda Kingdom as an example of what Tooro could achieve if its people worked together.

He argued that greater unity would enable Tooro to pursue development goals that might otherwise appear difficult to achieve.

Kijanangoma Promises to Continue King Oyo’s Projects

The king-designate also pledged to continue projects that were started by the late King Oyo.

He said the death of the former monarch should not mean an end to programmes that were benefiting the people of Tooro.

According to Kijanangoma, his administration would build on what King Oyo had already accomplished while introducing additional initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Batooro.

He said Tooro would also seek new partnerships within Uganda and internationally to support development programmes in the kingdom.

Education and Scholarships a Major Priority

Education emerged as one of the major priorities in Kijanangoma’s proposed agenda.

He said Tooro would look for partners who could help establish programmes aimed at supporting students, particularly young people who perform well academically but struggle to continue with higher education because of financial challenges.

The king-designate said scholarship programmes would therefore be expanded to give more Batooro children an opportunity to pursue university education.

He noted that King Oyo had already supported scholarship initiatives and pledged to add more opportunities.

Kijanangoma said the goal would be to ensure that educated young people eventually return to contribute to the development of their kingdom.

King-Designate to Use Media Connections for Tooro

Kijanangoma also highlighted his more than two decades of experience in the media industry, saying the contacts he has established in Uganda and abroad could help attract new partnerships for Tooro.

He said his exposure had enabled him to build relationships with people who could potentially support the kingdom’s development programmes.

The king-designate indicated that he intends to use those networks to bring more friends and development partners on board.

Tooro Succession Dispute Remains Unresolved

Kijanangoma’s plans come amid an unresolved dispute over who should succeed King Oyo.

The Attorney General, Sam Mayanja, has advised that the late king’s will should guide the succession process unless the document is successfully challenged in court.

Mayanja has also advised against proceeding with a traditional succession ritual involving the throwing of nine coffee beans into the late king’s grave until the dispute is resolved.

According to the Attorney General, disagreements surrounding the contents and validity of the will were not settled by the council of elders and could ultimately have to be determined by a court.

The legal position has therefore added another layer to an already complicated succession process.

Kijanangoma Signals Readiness to Lead

Despite the ongoing disagreements, Kijanangoma’s address suggests that he is preparing to move forward with his vision for Tooro.

His proposed agenda focuses on bringing the kingdom together, expanding educational opportunities, securing scholarships, attracting development partners and continuing programmes associated with the late King Oyo.

However, the future of the succession process remains dependent on the resolution of the dispute surrounding the late monarch’s will and the competing positions within the kingdom.

For now, Kijanangoma has presented his vision for a Tooro Kingdom that he says can achieve greater development if its people unite behind a common agenda.