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A Ugandan journalist has been installed as the new king of Tooro, one of the country’s historic kingdoms, after a succession dispute emerged following the death of his predecessor, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma Nyabongo II, a news anchor with Uganda’s public broadcaster, UBC, led a royal procession through Tooro on Tuesday ahead of his installation ceremony.
The transition comes weeks after the death of King Oyo, who became one of the world’s youngest monarchs when he ascended the throne at the age of three in 1995. Guinness World Records recognised him as the world’s youngest reigning monarch at the time.
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King Oyo died at the age of 34 after battling cancer, leaving behind a succession dispute within the royal family.
The late monarch’s mother challenged the succession process, arguing that Oyo’s young son, who had remained largely unknown outside the immediate family circle, should inherit the throne. She also claimed she was placed under house arrest during the dispute.
However, a selection committee from the Babiito royal clan, which oversees the Tooro monarchy, selected Prince Edward as successor, rejecting the claim that Oyo’s son should take over.
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The new king’s background marks a significant shift for the kingdom, as Prince Edward moves from journalism into a traditional leadership role.
Footage aired on Ugandan television showed large crowds gathering overnight across Tooro for the royal procession, reflecting public interest in the transition.
Although Uganda’s kingdoms no longer hold formal political authority, they remain important cultural institutions that preserve traditional leadership structures and heritage.
