Government Gazettes Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I as New Omukama of Tooro

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has formally gazetted His Highness Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I as the new Omukama of Tooro, legally cementing his ascension to the ancient throne following weeks of intense succession friction.

The official declaration, signed by Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Henry Tumukunde on October 12, 2026, was published as General Notice No. 2204 in the Uganda Gazette on Friday, October 16.

The notice officially recognizes Nyabongo as the reigning monarch with retroactive effect from September 29, the date of his historic coronation at the Karuzika Palace in Fort Portal.

Invoking Article 246 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and Section 5 of the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act, 2011, Minister Tumukunde affirmed that the succession process was successfully completed in accordance with the established cultural norms, customs, and traditions of Obukama Bwa Tooro.

Resolving a High-Stakes Royal Succession Dispute

The official gazettement brings formal closure to weeks of sharp public disagreement and legal debates that erupted following the sudden death of the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who passed away in the United States on August 27 at the age of 34 after reigning for over three decades.

The controversy began before King Oyo’s burial on September 12, when members of the royal family challenged the Babiito clan’s selection of Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, who subsequently assumed the regnal name Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I.

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At the core of the dispute was a purported will dated September 14, 2022, in which King Oyo allegedly named an unrecognised biological son as his preferred successor, alongside provisions naming his cousin, Prince Komwiswa Yoweri, under specific conditions.

The late king’s mother, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, and sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, strongly opposed the clan’s decision, arguing that the succession process bypassed the late monarch’s written wishes.

The disagreement placed the central government in a delicate mediation position as officials worked to ensure a dignified burial while navigating competing claims.

Legal Debates and Ministerial Interventions

The succession standoff triggered diverging legal opinions within government circles. Attorney General Sam Mayanja advised President Yoweri Museveni in a September 12 legal opinion that the purported will should guide the transition and that its validity ought to be tested in a court of law.

Similarly, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao emphasized that the enthronement process remained incomplete until all succession disputes were resolved and the new king’s name appeared in the national Gazette.

However, after extensive consultations and mediation, the government ultimately accepted the outcome of the customary selection process.

On September 24, State Minister for Gender and Culture Mary Kuteesa Kamuli announced that the Babiito clan’s choice of Kijanangoma on September 9—subsequently endorsed by the Tooro Kingdom Supreme Council on September 15—fully satisfied customary, constitutional, and statutory requirements.

With the formal publication in the Uganda Gazette, the state has recorded its recognition of the succession. Legal experts note that the gazette notice does not explicitly adjudicate the validity of King Oyo’s purported will or the status of the reported biological son, leaving such matters outside the administrative scope of traditional leader gazettement.

Following his September 29 coronation witnessed by President Yoweri Museveni, Omukama Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I now holds unencumbered state recognition as the legitimate ruler of Tooro.