Tooro coronation: Museveni gives King Nyabongo I 100 cattle
Museveni also called on cultural institutions to promote indigenous science, including traditional medicine and knowledge of herbs, saying the sector could develop into a major economic industry.
Congratulating him, Museveni said he had followed the new king in the media and was confident he would perform well in his new role. (Credit: Richard Sanya)
FORT PORTAL - President Yoweri Museveni has given the newly crowned King of Tooro, Omukama Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, 100 head of cattle as a coronation gift.
He made the announcement during the coronation ceremony on Tuesday (September 29) at the Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal City.
“Today we came for the coronation of the king. When you are going to a coronation ceremony, like today, you don't come empty-handed. I have given Rukirabasaija 100 head of cattle, ” said Museveni.
Nyabongo I, 56, succeeds the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died on August 27 this year at the age of 34, ending his 31-year reign.
He was selected by the Babiito royal clan's succession committee to succeed his cousin as the 15th ruler of Tooro.
Before ascending the throne, Nyabongo I was known as a veteran journalist, news anchor and editor at the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC).
The President also used the coronation to call on cultural institutions to play a greater role in preserving Uganda's indigenous languages, customs and traditional knowledge. (Credit: Richard Sanya)
Congratulating him, Museveni said he had followed the new king in the media and was confident he would perform well in his new role.
“I have been watching him on the news as a good news reader in English. So I'm sure he will do a good job in this."
The President also used the coronation to call on cultural institutions to play a greater role in preserving Uganda's indigenous languages, customs and traditional knowledge.
He said the restoration of cultural institutions in 1993 was partly intended to protect aspects of Uganda's heritage that were at risk of being lost through modernisation.
Museveni said indigenous languages were particularly vulnerable as children increasingly adopted English and other widely spoken languages.
Nyabongo I, 56, succeeds the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died on August 27 this year at the age of 34, ending his 31-year reign. (Credit: Richard Sanya)
He challenged kingdoms to work with the central government to promote indigenous languages and preserve cultural knowledge for future generations.
Museveni also called on cultural institutions to promote indigenous science, including traditional medicine and knowledge of herbs, saying the sector could develop into a major economic industry.
He said scientists were already working on medicines derived from herbs and urged kingdoms to support such efforts.
The President said cultural institutions could also help promote family values, traditional practices and agricultural knowledge.
He cited the four-acre model of farming, which he said had been promoted since 1996, as an example of how cultural institutions could help guide communities towards productive livelihoods.
Museveni said kingdoms should become a parent of the people by advising and guiding communities while preserving their cultural identity.