By Swift Reporter
The selection of Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the next King of Tooro has sparked fresh discussion about the cultural responsibilities expected of the incoming monarch, with royal elders clarifying that his current marriage to a non-Mutooro woman does not necessarily bar him from ascending the throne.
According to royal family member Prince Araali Kasagama, Kijanangoma may be required to take a Mutooro wife who understands Tooro traditions and can properly perform the cultural responsibilities associated with the position of Omugo, or queen of the kingdom.
Kasagama said Kijanangoma’s existing marriage to Rebecca Amoding-Rukidi should not be viewed as an obstacle to his leadership, stressing that the requirement does not necessarily mean he must divorce his current wife.
“I did witness the marriage of Prince Edward Kijanangoma to Mrs Amoding. We paid dowry and graced the function at their home in Mukono, and later they wedded,” Kasagama said.
“But still, he will have to get a spouse who is acquainted with Tooro culture to be able to preside over the culture of Tooro. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he has to divorce his current wife,” he added.
Kijanangoma is currently married to Amoding, a human resources professional from the Teso sub-region who works as a human resources manager at Vivo Energy Uganda and has previously worked with organisations including the World Food Programme and Unilever.
Kasagama argued that the expectations surrounding the Omugo are rooted in the traditional role of the royal spouse as a custodian and representative of Tooro culture.
“The principle here is that as Omugo, you cannot preside over a culture that you do not understand,” he said.
The royal elder also pointed to the historical practice of polygamy among some former Tooro monarchs, arguing that having more than one wife is not entirely inconsistent with the kingdom’s traditions.
“In Tooro there is a saying that a king is never monogamous,” Kasagama said, citing former Tooro monarchs who had multiple wives.
He further revealed that Kijanangoma has previously been married to a Rwandan woman and has children from that relationship, describing Amoding as his second wife.
“In his first marriage to a lady from Rwanda he had children and Amoding is his second wife. These are not secrets. But also she is not his last,” Kasagama said.
Kijanangoma has strong links to Rwanda, where he worked before returning to Uganda and joining Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC). He went on to build a career as a journalist, news anchor, editor and resource manager.
His professional background in broadcasting has now placed him at the centre of Tooro’s royal succession following the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
The Babiito royal clan succession committee selected Kijanangoma as the next King, citing traditional succession arrangements and the succession principles associated with the late King Sir George David Rukidi Kamurasi III.
However, his selection has been challenged by some members of Oyo’s family, who have argued that the late king’s reported son should be considered the rightful heir to the throne.
The disagreement has added another layer to an already sensitive succession process, with questions surrounding Kijanangoma’s family, his cultural obligations and the interpretation of Tooro’s succession traditions likely to remain part of the debate as preparations for the new reign continue.
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