Tooro King-designate Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma has outlined an ambitious vision for the kingdom, placing unity, education, scholarships and partnerships at the centre of his leadership agenda.
Kijanangoma shared the vision in his first address to a select group of elders after emerging as the choice of the Babiito elders for the Tooro throne.
He said he was ready to serve the people of Tooro, build on the work of the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, and introduce new programmes focused on education and development.
Kijanangoma also acknowledged that he was not initially considered for the throne.
He said Prince George Desmond Kamurasi had first been approached but declined the role, after which the opportunity eventually came to him.
“I was not the first choice, but when the committee reached out to Prince Kamurasi, he said he was not able to take on the role, for his reasons.”
Kijanangoma described his eventual selection as God’s doing, saying there had been considerable disagreement and tension surrounding the succession process.
That tension, he said, should now give way to unity.
“People have fought and done a lot, but God was involved. Even today during the burial of the king, you heard what transpired, but all I can say is that it all ended well.”
The King-designate pointed to the Buganda Kingdom as an example of what unity can accomplish, arguing that Tooro could reach greater heights if its people worked together.
“We often hear about the great things that have been accomplished by the Buganda Kingdom; they are united. Unity will drive us to the heights that were thought impossible.”
Kijanangoma also pledged to preserve King Oyo’s development projects rather than abandon them following his death.
“The late King Oyo had accomplished a lot of good things. All his great projects will not stop because he is not here. We shall take them on and develop them.”
Education is another major focus of his proposed agenda. Kijanangoma said his administration would seek partnerships within Uganda and internationally to create opportunities for young people in Tooro.
He also promised to expand scholarship programmes, building on initiatives he said had already been started by King Oyo.
“I know that the late king had some scholarship projects, but we shall add more. Our children will go to school and come back and work for their kingdom.”
His remarks come as Tooro moves through a deeply contested succession process following King Oyo’s death, with Kijanangoma positioning unity and development as central to his proposed leadership.