Museveni gifts 100 Ankole cattle to Tooro King Nyabongo I

President Yoweri Museveni has gifted 100 heads of Ankole longhorn cattle to the newly enthroned Omukama of Tooro, His Majesty Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I.

The gift was presented to Nyabongo I as he begins his reign as the 13th Omukama of Tooro, following his enthronement at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal on Tuesday.

Nyabongo I, formerly Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, was selected by the Babiito Royal Clan to succeed the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died on August 27, 2026.

The new king is the son of the late Prince Christopher Paul Kijanangoma and grandson of Omukama Sir George David Rukidi III. Before ascending the throne, he worked as a journalist, news anchor and editor at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.

He holds a Bachelor of Mass Communication from Makerere University, which he obtained in 1999.

The new Omukama was selected by the Babiito Royal Clan and subsequently endorsed by the Rukurato Rw’Obukama Bwa Tooro, the kingdom’s supreme council.

His enthronement followed weeks of uncertainty over the succession after the death of Oyo, who had reigned for more than three decades after becoming king at the age of three in 1995.

The succession process has, however, remained contested by Queen Mother Best Kemigisa and Princess Ruth Komuntale, who have maintained that the late king left behind a son who should be considered in the succession. The Babiito Royal Clan has said the alleged heir was not known to the clan when it made its decision.

President Museveni attended Nyabongo I’s coronation, where he called for the preservation of Uganda’s indigenous languages and cultural heritage. Traditional kingdoms in Uganda have cultural and historical significance but do not exercise constitutional political authority.

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