By 
A Ugandan television news anchor has been chosen as the next monarch of the Tooro Kingdom following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, ending weeks of uncertainty over the succession.
Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a news anchor and editor with the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), was named crown prince on Wednesday by a Tooro Kingdom selection committee after a search for a successor.
Kijanangoma, who is a cousin of the late king, is expected to be crowned later this week. He will succeed King Oyo, who died last month at the age of 34 after battling cancer.
The late monarch, widely known as the “boy king”, ascended to the throne as an infant and grew into one of Uganda’s most recognised traditional leaders, CNN reports
He will be buried on Saturday in Fort Portal, with tens of thousands of mourners expected to attend.
Read more: ‘Pack your bags and get out,’ Uganda army chief orders Turkish nationals to leave country
King Oyo was unmarried at the time of his death.
The Tooro Kingdom is one of Uganda’s five recognised traditional kingdoms. While these kingdoms have cultural significance, they do not exercise formal political power under Uganda’s Constitution.
President Yoweri Museveni had previously suggested that King Oyo left behind a young son born out of wedlock.
However, the kingdom’s selection committee opted to appoint Kijanangoma instead.
The decision is seen as an effort to provide experienced leadership while avoiding another child ascending to the throne.
However, it could spark controversy, with some supporters of the late king expected to question the succession process or pursue legal action.
Kijanangoma’s transition from state television journalist to traditional monarch marks an unusual chapter in the history of the Tooro Kingdom and places him at the centre of efforts to preserve one of Uganda’s oldest cultural institutions.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR
Comments