FORT PORTAL, Uganda — The head of the Babiito Clan, Prince Regent Charles Akiiki Kamurasi, has officially declared Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the new King of Tooro, taking the royal title King Edward Rukidi Nabongo I.
The announcement was made during the final send-off of the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV at St John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
The declaration comes after days of uncertainty and public disagreement surrounding the succession of the late Tooro monarch.
Charles Akiiki Kamurasi Declares New King of Tooro
Speaking before mourners and kingdom officials, Musuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi said the Babiito Clan had followed both the traditions of Tooro Kingdom and the laws of Uganda when selecting Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma.
He announced that the new monarch would reign under the name King Edward Rukidi Nabongo I.
“I now wish to state to the people of Tooro and Uganda and inform you that we have a new king. The princes and princesses sat under the Musuuga and spoke as one and elected a new king.”
Kamurasi said the selection was carried out according to established cultural procedures.
“I inform you that that is King Edward Rukidi Nabongo I.”
Tooro Succession Process Sparks Disagreement
The announcement of Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as King Oyo’s successor had earlier triggered a major disagreement within sections of the royal family.
Princess Ruth Komuntale, the late King Oyo’s sister, rejected the decision, arguing that the late monarch had reportedly left a will naming his son as the heir to the throne.
Other senior members of the royal family, including Princess Elizabeth Bagaya, King Oyo’s paternal aunt, and Margaret Komubaizi Kajoyo, the Assistant Batebe of Tooro, also expressed concerns about the succession process.
They maintained that the royal family had not approved the announcement and wanted the late king’s reported will to be reviewed before a new monarch was proclaimed.
The royal family accused the Babiito Clan of moving too quickly in selecting a successor.
However, the clan defended the process, insisting that the succession followed the traditional customs of Tooro Kingdom and that the reported heir had not undergone the formal recognition required under the kingdom’s cultural procedures.
Kamurasi Calls for Unity in Tooro Kingdom
Addressing mourners during King Oyo’s burial ceremony, Prince Charles Akiiki Kamurasi called on the people of Tooro to remain united during the difficult period.
He thanked the people of the kingdom for remaining loyal and standing together following the death of their monarch.
“To the people of Tooro, I wish to state unto you thus: I thank you for loving your kingdom. Thank you for being faithful, especially in such a time of grief.”
Kamurasi urged the people not to allow the loss of King Oyo to divide the kingdom.
“Now, the milk is spilt; lightning has struck us. Your king is gone. Let us stay together because God is with us.”
‘No One Can Despise the Traditions of Tooro’
The Babiito Clan leader strongly defended the cultural traditions that guided the selection of the new king.
He said the customs and heritage of Tooro Kingdom must be protected and respected.
“Let us preserve the honour of this land and its culture. No one can despise the traditions of Tooro.”
Kamurasi further insisted that the process used to select King Edward Rukidi Nabongo I complied with both cultural traditions and the laws of Uganda.
“I also inform you that in all we did, we followed the laws of Uganda, following the norms and traditions of this land.”
He appealed to the people of Tooro to maintain peace and unity despite the disagreement surrounding the succession.
“I ask you all to keep the peace and unity of this land. Let us speak as one.”
Emotional Farewell to King Oyo
An emotional Kamurasi also paid tribute to the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, reflecting on his life and the legacy he leaves behind.
He prayed for forgiveness for any shortcomings the late monarch may have had during his lifetime.
“Lord God the Creator, who created our King Oyo Nyimba, I pray unto you to forgive my son; all that he did, which was not right as a person.”
Kamurasi also recalled his relationship with the late monarch and the responsibility he had been given to protect the royal family.
“Amooti, when I see you, I remember your father. He once told me to be strong and protect his children. I believe that I have fulfilled that command.”
Overcome with emotion, he apologised to mourners before delivering his final farewell to the late king.
“Forgive me for being emotional. But such is life.”
King Oyo Buried as Tooro Welcomes New Monarch
In his final message to the late monarch, Kamurasi addressed King Oyo by his full royal title and noted the significance of the day.
“Amooti, Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, we send you off on the same day as your coronation. God be with you. Rest well. Rest with your father.”
The burial and declaration of a new king mark a major turning point for Tooro Kingdom, which now faces the task of moving forward following the death of King Oyo.
While questions surrounding the succession process remain among some members of the royal family, Prince Charles Akiiki Kamurasi has maintained that the selection of King Edward Rukidi Nabongo I was conducted in accordance with the traditions of Tooro and the laws of Uganda.
The new development officially places King Edward Rukidi Nabongo I at the centre of a new chapter in the history of Tooro Kingdom.
