Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a senior news anchor and editor at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC TV), has been named the 14th Omukama (king) of Tooro.
The Babiito royal clan’s 21‑member succession committee announced his selection on 9 September 2026 at Karuziika Palace, Fort Portal, after the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV on 27 August 2026.
According to Ugandan media reports, 19 of 21 committee members voted for him.
Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma’s Royal lineage and Personal Profile
Edward Rukidi is from the Kijanangoma branch of the Babiito dynasty.
He is the son of the late Prince Christopher (Paul) Kijanangoma, eldest son of Omukama Sir George David Rukidi III, and a grandson of Rukidi III.
He is a cousin of the late King Oyo.
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His brother, Prince Charles Happy Kijanangoma, was murdered in Fort Portal in 1999.
Former Tooro Prime Minister John Sanyu Katuramu was jailed for life over the killing.
Another brother, Prince David Kijanangoma, triggered a major succession row in 2015 when he challenged King Oyo and occupied Rwengoma Palace.
Professionally, Edward Rukidi is a long‑serving UBC TV journalist.
He has worked as a news anchor, senior news editor and resource manager, fronting bulletins including UBC News Tonight.
UBC describes Edward Rukidi as calm, disciplined, and highly experienced in news production and on‑air presentation.
He is a born‑again Christian and a member of Watoto Church, Ntinda, Kampala.
He is married to Rebecca Amoding-Rukidi, a human resources and organisational development professional from the Teso sub-region who holds a master’s degree in management studies with a specialization in human resource management.
A Surprise Choice
Kijanangoma’s emergence was unexpected.
Following King Oyo’s death, attention initially focused on other potential successors, including Prince George Desmond Kamurasi, a UK-based football coach and goalkeeper who reportedly emerged as the succession committee’s preferred candidate.
However, committee members later said Kamurasi declined the throne, citing personal responsibilities and an inability to commit to the demands of kingship.
The committee then turned to Kijanangoma, who accepted the responsibility and was subsequently endorsed by an overwhelming majority of members.
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His selection represents a dramatic shift for the kingdom.
Unlike Oyo, who ascended the throne as a three-year-old child and became globally known as the “boy king,” Kijanangoma comes to the throne after decades in the professional world, bringing extensive experience in communication, management and public engagement.
The Controversy Overshadowing His Rise
Yet Kijanangoma’s selection has immediately sparked one of the most serious succession disputes in modern Tooro history.
At the centre of the controversy are claims that King Oyo left behind a son who should inherit the throne. The late king’s sister, Ruth Komuntale, has publicly rejected Kijanangoma’s selection, insisting that Oyo’s will clearly identifies his son as the rightful heir and provides a succession framework that should have been respected.
Komuntale says members of the royal family had been reviewing the late king’s will and preparing for consultations with lawyers before announcing any successor. According to her, the announcement of Kijanangoma came unexpectedly and disregarded an agreed process.
Her position has received support from senior royal figure Princess Elizabeth Bagaya, who publicly backed the family’s objections and questioned the speed with which the succession committee moved ahead.
The dispute has evolved into a broader debate over whether the Babiito clan has the authority to choose a king under custom and tradition, or whether the late monarch’s documented wishes should take precedence.
For now, Kijanangoma remains king-designate and is expected to undergo traditional enthronement rites before formally assuming the throne as the new Omukama of Tooro.
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