By Anne Mugisa

FOUR hereditary rulers from Ghana arrived for the 15th coronation anniversary of the king of Toro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV.The traditional leaders were led by their president, Togbe Afede XIV.

Oyo, who turns 18 tomorrow, will take over the reigns of power from his regents on Saturday.

The festivities kick off tomorrow with a Church service led by Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi.

President Yoweri Museveni, Vice-President Gilbert Bukenya, Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki and Speaker Edward Ssekandi are expected to attend the main celebrations on Saturday.

Oyo was crowned king at the age of three following the death of his father, Omukama Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi, in 1995.

More traditional rulers across Africa are expected today and tomorrow. At least 100 of them were invited.

On the Ghanaian team is Nana Soglo Allo IV, the paramount chief of Likpe traditional area. He is also the vice-president of the Volta regional house of chiefs. Togbo Afede XIV heads the Volta regional house of chiefs.

The others are Togbe Howusu XII, the warlord of Asogli state and Mama Agblatsu III, the Queen of Ho Bankoe.

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, Togbe Afede XIV commended the Government for supporting the young Oyo and for restoring kingdoms.

The Ghanaian chiefs, he said, honoured the invitation because they wanted to foster unity among African people.

“We have the advantage of numbers,” Afede XIV said. “This means that we can have a bigger market for our continent to prosper,” he said.

He commended the people of Toro for nurturing Oyo and asked them to work with him, now that he has come of age, to develop the kingdom.

More royals are expected from the Zulu Kingdom of South Africa, from Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Mauritania, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Ghana. They will be joined by their Ugandan counterparts.

The celebrations will feature cultural activities such as the sounding of the royal drums (empango hakaswa) and the royal milking ceremony in which the king is given fresh milk (enkorogi ya hamusango).

Celebrants will be treated to the graceful royal dance (kuguruka amakondere).