📸 Kijanangoma performs last rituals, set for Tooro kingdom throne

The love, ululations and excitement were unmistakable as Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma stepped out of the old palace at Rwengoma for the final time as a prince. Each subject seemed to have a unique way of expressing their excitement, while others could be heard chanting, “Team Musuuga!”

Subjects and Badumas (traditional royal guards) carried bundles of dry reeds, which were later lit to provide light for the king's journey. By 10:13 pm, some subjects had been asked to step out and light the reeds.

At 10:31 pm, the young men carrying mats entered to pick up the king-in-waiting. They carefully laid the mats from the palace because, according to the tradition observed during the ceremony, the king was not expected to step directly on the soil.

According to the programme, the journey was supposed to begin at exactly 10 pm, but this did not happen. By 10:45 pm, some of the Badumas had entered, followed by an aged man carrying a small axe. The Badumas were sweating, a sign to those watching that they had left Karuziika running.

Minutes later, men wearing caps were asked to remove them. Outside the gate, the reeds had already been set on fire, their flames illuminating the darkness as hundreds of people waited for the king to emerge.

By 11:40 pm, the crowd had begun to relax, and the excitement appeared to have died down.

Then, surprisingly, the king-to-be showed signs of coming out. The royal guards immediately tightened their formation, holding on to each other, while UPDF personnel provided security. The young boys hurried to relight the reeds, and the excitement returned. The mood was alive again.

Eventually, the king was brought out. The number of people waiting outside was uncountable. Along the roadside, people held candles as they waited to accompany their king. Others had walked from different parts of the city, dancing, whistling and chanting as they joined the procession.

The road from Rwengoma was full to capacity. The procession moved slowly, surrounded by subjects who had come to witness a moment of cultural significance for the Tooro Kingdom.

For many of those lining the route, the journey was more than simply moving from one palace to another. It was part of the traditional rituals marking the transition of Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma towards becoming Omukama of Tooro. The night procession from Rwengoma to Karuziika was followed by further traditional rituals at Karuziika Palace.

Moses Sabiti, a subject from Kyenjojo, said he had never witnessed anything like it. Overwhelmed by the spectacle, he could only chant, “Yo! Yo! Yo!”

As the flames from the reeds flickered through the night and the chants grew louder, thousands continued walking behind their king towards Karuziika, carrying with them the excitement, pride and anticipation of a kingdom witnessing a historic moment.

Amid the unexpected crowds, the king managed to reach the palace, where he took part in a mock battle and speared a white cow three times.

By 1:00 am, the king was handed two drumsticks and beat the drum. This signified that Tooro Kingdom had officially got a new king. The streets of Fort Portal were full of multitudes of people.

During such occasions, thieves tend to take advantage of the large crowds, but this time there were no reports of anyone complaining about a missing phone. A few people lost their shoes in the crowds.

The king sat visibly on his throne, holding a spear.

Meanwhile, the lion statues in Tooro, which had been covered to signify the absence of a king after the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, have been uncovered with the arrival of Prince Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, who is set to be crowned king of Tooro today, Tuesday.

The bark cloth that draped lion sculptures across Tooro kingdom as a traditional mourning rite were finally removed. Photos by Richard Sanya