Former Ugandan TV anchor Edward Rukidi Nyabongo is crowned king of Tooro after bitter succession fight
From the Newshound archive · first published 29 September 2026 · last updated 30 September 2026.
Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, a 56-year-old former television news anchor and broadcaster, was crowned the 13th king of Uganda's Tooro Kingdom in a ritual-laden ceremony in Fort Portal on Tuesday, ending a feud sparked by the death of his predecessor. King Oyo Nyimba, who died from angiosarcoma in the US on 27 August aged just 34, left no publicly known heir, triggering a succession dispute that drew in Uganda's central government. Nyabongo, Oyo Nyimba's cousin, was selected by a 21-member committee of the royal Babiito clan after performing overnight rituals including a mock battle for the crown.
The queen mother, Best Kemigisa, disputed the choice, claiming Oyo Nyimba's written will was ignored and that he left a secret young son with a rightful claim to the throne.
Uganda's central government reportedly pushed through Nyabongo's selection over the queen mother's objections, raising questions about the new king's legitimacy.
In his maiden speech, Nyabongo pledged to protect Tooro's culture and environment, telling followers: 'Heritage must be matched by discipline and hard work.'