A former journalist has been crowned king of Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom following a disputed succession process triggered by the death of the previous monarch.
Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, 56, became the 13th monarch of the Batooro people and adopted the royal name Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I.
His coronation followed the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV last month at the age of 34.
Al Jazeera, citing AP and Reuters, reported that the late king’s death from cancer led to a succession dispute after his mother said he had left behind a previously undisclosed son who was entitled to the throne.
Tooro Kingdom selects new king
A 21-member committee from the royal Babiito clan selected Kijanangoma, who is a cousin of the late king.
Nyabongo I previously worked as a news anchor and editor at Uganda’s state broadcaster UBC.
Former colleagues described him as humble and down to earth, according to the report.
His selection was contested because he was not in the direct line of succession.
The late king’s mother, Best Kemigisa, and his sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, objected to the decision.
They say King Oyo left behind a young son and a will naming the child as his heir.
However, critics of that claim argue that the alleged child would have needed to be introduced to kingdom elders while his father was alive to be recognised as a legitimate heir.
The reason the child’s identity was not previously disclosed remains unclear.
Traditional ceremony held in Tooro
Nyabongo I was crowned following a series of traditional ceremonies in Tooro.
Reuters reported that he walked to Karuziika Palace between midnight and 3am on Tuesday before taking part in traditional rites.
The ceremony also included a symbolic mock battle for the crown.
Other traditional practices reported during the ceremony included the slaughter of a bull and the sprinkling of a hen’s blood.
Uganda’s traditional kingdoms
Uganda is a constitutional republic, while several traditional kingdoms continue to have cultural significance.
These kingdoms do not exercise formal political power but remain important institutions of identity and heritage for their communities.
The coronation brings a new monarch to the Tooro throne, although objections surrounding the succession remain.