Prince Edward Kijanangoma, now King Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, has taken a unique path from television journalism to the throne of Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom.
The 56-year-old was crowned on September 29, 2026, succeeding his cousin, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died on August 27 at the age of 34.
Before becoming king, Kijanangoma spent more than two decades in broadcast journalism, including working as a news anchor and editor at the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC).
His selection as Oyo’s successor, however, was followed by a dispute within the royal family over who should inherit the throne.
The Babiito royal clan selected Kijanangoma through a 21-member succession committee, while members of Oyo’s immediate family challenged the decision and claimed the late king had named a son as his heir.
Despite the dispute, the Tooro Kingdom proceeded with Kijanangoma’s traditional enthronement on September 29, with President Yoweri Museveni among those who attended the ceremony.
Who Is Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma?
Edward Kijanangoma was born in 1970 and raised in the family home in Kidukuru village, Fort Portal, western Uganda.
He comes from the Babiito royal family and is the son of the late Prince Christopher Paul Kijanangoma.
Kijanangoma is also a grandson of former Tooro King Sir George David Rukidi III and a cousin of the late King Oyo.
Edward Kijanangoma is married to Rebecca Amoding-Rukidi, a Ugandan human resources professional from the Teso sub-region.
Before their relationship, he was married to a Rwandan woman during the period when he worked in Rwanda.
His connection to the royal family meant he was among the princes eligible to be considered during the succession process following Oyo’s death.
The name Kijanangoma also has a royal connection. His father was given the name by King Rukidi III, with the name understood to mean “the one who comes with the royal drum.”
Edward Kijanangoma’s Education
Edward Kijanangoma began his education at Kinyamasika Primary School before joining St Leo’s College Kyegobe in Fort Portal.
He later attended Makerere University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Mass Communication in 1999.
His Career as a Journalist
Before entering traditional leadership, Kijanangoma worked in both Uganda and Rwanda, gaining television news experience before joining the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.
At UBC, he worked as a news anchor and editor and became a familiar face on television.
His broadcasting career lasted about 24 years, during which he gained experience in newsroom management, editorial work, and public communication.
How Edward Kijanangoma Became King
Edward Kijanangoma was named the 14th Omukama (king) of Tooro after the death of King Oyo on August 27.
The Babiito royal clan’s 21‑member succession committee announced his selection on 9 September 2026 at Karuziika Palace, Fort Portal.
Oyo had ruled Tooro since 1995, when he was crowned at just three years old following the death of his father. His death at the age of 34 opened a succession process within the Babiito royal clan.
A 21-member succession committee was formed to consider eligible members of the royal family.
The committee eventually selected Kijanangoma, who was one of Oyo’s cousins. The Tooro Kingdom Supreme Council later endorsed the decision.
Edward Kijanangoma was then designated to take the royal name Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I.
Why His Succession Was Contested
Oyo’s mother, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, and his sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, opposed the succession decision.
They claimed that Oyo had left a 2022 will naming his biological son as the rightful heir.
The claim became the central issue in the succession dispute because the child had not previously been publicly known as Oyo’s heir.
The Babiito royal clan, however, said it was unaware of such a child and maintained that it followed Tooro’s traditional succession procedures when selecting Kijanangoma.
Government Recognition Became Part of the Dispute
The succession disagreement also raised questions about the Ugandan government’s formal recognition of Kijanangoma.
Before his coronation, Attorney General Sam Mayanja had said the government would not gazette Kijanangoma as King of Tooro while the succession dispute remained unresolved.
The position meant that the Babiito clan’s selection did not automatically settle the wider dispute over who should inherit the late king.
However, the government later allowed the kingdom to proceed with the September 29 coronation after no formal court challenge had been filed to stop the ceremony.
Traditional Ceremonies Before His Coronation
Kijanangoma’s installation followed traditional ceremonies associated with the Tooro monarchy.
Before reaching the royal palace, he took part in rituals that included an overnight procession and a symbolic battle for the crown.
He eventually arrived at Karuziika Royal Palace in Fort Portal, where the enthronement ceremony took place.
President Yoweri Museveni attended the coronation, which marked the formal installation of Kijanangoma as the new Omukama of Tooro.
Following his installation, Edward Kijanangoma became King Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I.
He is the 13th monarch of the Tooro Kingdom under the kingdom’s traditional reckoning. Uganda’s traditional kingdoms do not exercise political power, but they remain important cultural institutions.
In his first address as king, Nyabongo called for unity and urged the preservation of Tooro’s cultural heritage and environment.
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