The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has endorsed the newly selected Omukama of Tooro, His Majesty Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, following the burial of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
In a post on X, Gen Kainerugaba called on Ugandans to stand behind the new monarch:
"My fellow Ugandans, the new Omukama of Tooro is His Majesty Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I. Long may he reign. God bless him always. God bless Tooro."
The endorsement follows the completion of traditional royal succession rites at the Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal on Saturday evening, September 12, 2026.
Flanked by the head of the Babiito royal clan (Omusuuga), Charles Kayondo Kamurasi, clan elders, and the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, the 56-year-old monarch—formerly known as Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma—performed the mandatory cultural norms at the burial site before greeting thousands of subjects.
The ascension of Omukama Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I follows the passing of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV on August 27, 2026, at the age of 34.
King Oyo succumbed to angiosarcoma, an aggressive blood vessel cancer, at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Dallas, Texas. His sister, Princess Ruth Nsemere Komuntale, later revealed that the late king had quietly battled severe back and rib-cage pain since late 2025, undergoing specialized medical care in Kenya and Germany before his final referral to the United States.
Born on April 16, 1992, King Oyo ascended the throne on September 17, 1995, at just three years old following the sudden death of his father, Omukama Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III. Entering the Guinness World Records as the world's youngest reigning monarch, King Oyo led the Tooro Kingdom for 31 years, focusing his reign on health advocacy, agricultural transformation, youth education, and environmental protection.
On Saturday, September 12, 2026, tens of thousands of mourners gathered in Fort Portal City to bid farewell to the late monarch. Following a national requiem service led by the Church of Uganda at St. John’s Cathedral, King Oyo’s cortege proceeded to the Karambi Royal Tombs, where he was laid to rest in a private, customary burial ceremony beside his father.
In a condolence message delivered by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni commended King Oyo as an exemplary cultural leader who prioritized socio-economic development and maintained harmony with the central government.
Succession Context
On September 9, 2026, the Babiito Royal Clan Succession Committee, headed by Omusuuga Kamurasi, declared Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the 13th Omukama of Tooro under the regnal title Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I.
The appointment initially sparked public debate, with Princess Ruth Komuntale and Queen Mother Best Kemigisa advocating for the recognition of King Oyo’s 2022 will, which favored succession by a surviving biological son. However, clan custodians maintained that under ancient Tooro customary law, succession authority rests with the Omusuuga and the clan council rather than a written testament.
Following the completion of the initial burial rites, preparations are now underway across the kingdom for the formal traditional coronation and enthronement ceremonies of King Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I.
