New Tooro King pledges to fight poverty, open Karuziika to all
“To all the people of Tooro, Karuziika is open to all of you,” he said.
King of Tooro, Edward Rukiidi Nyabongo in a group photo with President Yoweri Museveni, religious and cultural leaders at Karuziika on September 29, 2026. (Photo by Richard Sanya)
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The newly installed King of Tooro, Edward Rukiidi Nyabongo, has pledged to fight poverty, protect the environment and empower the people of the kingdom to improve their livelihoods, while calling for unity and teamwork among the people of Tooro.
In his maiden address to his subjects at Karuziika on September 29, 2026, the king asked the people of Tooro to honour the memory of his predecessor, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
He thanked the people of Tooro for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading the kingdom and acknowledged those who had supported the transition.
The king also thanked the media fraternity, particularly Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), his employer for 12 years.
He emphasised that the Tooro kingdom belonged to its people and said his administration would focus on improving their welfare.
“The Tooro kingdom is for the people,” he said.
The king noted that the Constitution did not allow cultural institutions to participate in partisan central government affairs, but said the kingdom had an important role to play in improving the lives of its people.
He pledged that his administration would fight poverty, protect the environment and promote teamwork.
He also promised to support young people to acquire skills and pursue opportunities that would enable them to improve their lives and contribute to the development of the kingdom.
The king further pledged to work with other cultural institutions to strengthen cooperation and promote development.
He reassured the people of Tooro that the royal palace, Karuziika, would remain accessible to them.
“To all the people of Tooro, Karuziika is open to all of you,” he said.
Musuuga hands over the kingdom
Musuuga was praised for remaining firm and consistent during the difficult period following the death of King Oyo.
Msgr Fr Charles Mayombo said Musuuga had demonstrated strength during the transition and that such steadfastness had been necessary to guide Tooro into a new chapter.
He urged the people of Tooro to support their new king, saying they should trust his leadership.
“The king will rescue you; just trust him,” Mayombo said.
Musuuga later took to the podium to loud cheers from the crowd. He walked to the stage calmly and raised his fist in the air in a gesture of greeting before saluting the new king and the President.
He described President Yoweri Museveni as Omujwara Kondo and called on him to observe a minute of silence in honour of the late King Oyo.
Musuuga thanked the President for restoring the Tooro Kingdom and for serving as a Regent during the difficult period. He also acknowledged the President's support, including assistance with his medical treatment.
He thanked the President for ordering the construction of the wall fence around the royal palace and recognised the contribution of Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and other officials who had supported the kingdom.
Musuuga also thanked Best Kemigisa, the former queen mother, for her role in raising and caring for King Oyo.
His speech became emotional when he reflected on the death of the King he had helped raise from childhood.
Musuuga said King Oyo had done important work for the kingdom and had been a champion in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
He explained that after King Oyo's death, he had decided to take charge of the kingdom to preserve its stability and ensure that it remained intact during the transition.
Musuuga assured the new monarch that the people of Tooro were ready to work with him and restore the glory of the kingdom.
He concluded by recalling advice from their uncle, Nyabongo, before leaving the podium after praising the new king.
Govt urges sustainable cultural institutions
Gender and social development minister Henry Tumukunde described the late King Oyo as a great leader who had died at a young age.
He thanked the former queen mother for her contribution to the kingdom and praised Musuuga for his role in managing the transition.
Tumukunde, who said he was responsible for matters concerning cultural institutions, welcomed the new King and commended the people of Tooro for their patience during the transition.
He said difficult moments could also bring people together because communities shared similar cultural experiences and aspirations.
Tumukunde explained that the role of the central government was to safeguard the interests of citizens while allowing cultural institutions to perform their constitutional roles.
He said the government had restored cultural institutions after what he described as a difficult period in Uganda's history, with the intention of modernising them and giving them appropriate guidance.
He said cultural institutions needed proper leadership and guidance to avoid mistakes, noting that Musuuga's guidance had helped him navigate his responsibilities.
Tumukunde also challenged cultural institutions to become more self-reliant and financially sustainable rather than depending entirely on government support.
He said the transition in Tooro had been handled smoothly and urged the new King to use his position and age to build a stronger and more sustainable kingdom.
He encouraged the new monarch to work to reverse a history in which some traditional leaders had remained in office for only short periods, saying the new King had the opportunity to achieve more during his reign.
The ceremony was attended by members of the royal family, cultural leaders and representatives from other kingdoms, including Ankole and Bunyoro, as well as government officials, religious leaders and members of the royal family.