Former TV journalist crowned king of Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom

Edward Rukidi Kiganangoma, a former television journalist, has been crowned king of Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom. Kiganangoma, 56, took the throne as Nyabongo I after his predecessor, King Oyo Kyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, died unexpectedly last month while receiving cancer treatment in the United States. Oyo was 34 and had become king at the age of three.

Oyo’s death prompted a succession dispute. His mother supported the late king’s undisclosed son as the next monarch, but the royal Babito clan selected Kiganangoma from a group of eligible princes. The coronation took place in the western Ugandan town of Fort Portal and was attended by thousands of people.

The ceremony was televised and included a mock battle and animal sacrifices. Kiganangoma previously worked as a journalist and editor for Uganda’s public broadcaster, UBC. In his first speech as king, he said the new role carried a responsibility to protect the kingdom’s culture, traditions, customs and standards of conduct.

President Yoweri Museveni attended the ceremony. While expressing sadness over Oyo’s death, Museveni congratulated Nyabongo and referred to his experience as a newsreader. Uganda is a constitutional republic with an elected president, while its four major precolonial kingdoms retain cultural influence.

The kingdoms do not exercise political power. Their monarchs are involved in maintaining social order and protecting heritage. The supplied report does not provide further details about the succession dispute or the new king’s plans.