Omukama of Tooro

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Bantu kingdom within Uganda.

Omukama of Tooro
Omukama wa Tooro
Incumbent
Rukidi IV
since 12 September 1995
Details
Style His Majesty
Heir apparent Prince James Mugenyi
First monarch Olimi I
Formation1830
ResidenceNew Tooro Kingdom Palace, Fort Portal
The Omukama of Tooro, Rukidi III (centre) and the British governor of Uganda, Sir Frederick Crawford (right) at the signing of an agreement in Kabarole, Tooro Kingdom, Uganda, late 1950s. Omukama of Toro with Sir Frederick Crawford, Kabarole, Toro, Uganda.jpg
The Omukama of Tooro, Rukidi III (centre) and the British governor of Uganda, Sir Frederick Crawford (right) at the signing of an agreement in Kabarole, Tooro Kingdom, Uganda, late 1950s.

Omukama wa Tooro (translates to the King of Tooro) is the official title given to the king of Tooro in Uganda.

Contents

History

The history of Omukama wa Tooro starts with the kingdom's founding around 1830s by Rukirabasaija Omukama Kaboyo Olimi l Amooti who was the son of Rukirabasaija Kyebambe lll Nyamutukura Amooti, the king of Bunyoro. [1] He broke away and formed his own independent kingdom, establishing the Tooro monarchy, continuing the ancient Babiito dynasty linked to the lengendary Kitara empire with earlier lengendary rulers like the Tembuzi and Chwezi. [1] In the late 1880s the Bunyoro King, Kabarenga temporarily reconquered the Tooro. However, with help from the British colonizers the Tooro prince restored his throne in the 1890s.

In the 1950s, the Uganda National Congress supported the Omukama as he resisted the Central Government's efforts to "rule" Tooro as a district. [2]

Tooro existed as an independent kingdom until 1967 when Apollo Milton Obote banned all kingdoms in Uganda. The kingdoms were reinstated as cultural institutions in 1993.

Today, the Omukama of Tooro and the other kings play a vital role in Ugandan politics as cultural leaders and agents of peace and stability in their respective kingdoms. Tooro and Bunyoro kingdoms enjoy a close relationship.

Election of kings

Tooro kingdom runs a hereditary system of succession, and the successor is determined by royal lineage. [3]

Current kingship

The current Omukama wa Tooro is Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who ascended the throne in 1995 at the age of 3. He is the 12th ruler of this kingdom, which originated as a seccession from Bunyoro Kingdom. [4]

List of Abakama ba (Kings of) Tooro

The following is a list of the Abakama of Tooro, starting around 1800 AD: [1]

  1. Kaboyo Olimi I, (Kasunsu Nkwanzi), c. 1830–1861
  2. Kazaana Ruhaga I, c. 1861–1862
  3. Nyaika Kasunga Kyebambe I, c. 1862–1863 and c. 1864–1874
  4. Kato Rukidi I, 1863–1864
  5. Mukabirere Olimi II, c. 1874–1876
  6. Mukarusa Kyebambe II, c. 1876–1877
  7. Isingoma Rukidi ll, c. 1877
  8. Rububi Kyebambe III, c. 1878–1879
  9. Kakende Nyamuyonjo, c. 1878 and 1881–1882
  10. Katera Rujwenge, c. 1878–1879
    Interregnum, 1880–1891; reverted to Bunyoro
  11. Daudi Kasagama Kyebambe IV, 1891–1928
  12. George David Kamurasi Rukidi III, 1929–1965
  13. Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, 1965–1995 [5]
    Monarchy discontinued by the Ugandan government, 1967–1993
  14. Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, 1995–present [6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About Tooro Kingdom – Tooro Kingdom" . Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  2. ↑ Uzoigwe, G. N., ed. (1982). Uganda: The dilemma of nationhood. New York: NOK Publishers International. p. 237. ISBN   0-88357-038-6. LCCN   74-81845.
  3. ↑ "The toro/batoro of uganda - uganda culture and tribes". petnah. 2020-04-28. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  4. ↑ "Tooro Kingdom – His Royal Highness King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV" . Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  5. ↑ Doornbos, Martin; Mwesigye, Frederick (1994). "The new politics of kingmaking". In Hansen, Holger Bernt; Twaddle, Michael (eds.). From chaos to order: The politics of constitution-making in Uganda. Kampala: Fountain Publishers. p. 61. ISBN   9970-02-044-7.
  6. ↑ "Inside King Oyo's enthronement at age 3 in 1995". Monitor. 2025-09-11. Retrieved 2025-12-19.


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