right|thumb|The Omukama of Tooro, [[Rukidi III of Tooro|Rukidi III (centre) and the British governor of Uganda, Sir Frederick Crawford (right) at the signing of an agreement in Kabarole, Tooro Kingdom, Uganda, late 1950s.]]

Omukama wa Tooro (translates to the King of Tooro) is the official title given to the king of Tooro in Uganda.

History

The history of Omukama wa Tooro starts with the kingdom's founding around 1830s by Rukirabasaija Omukama Kaboyo Olimi l Amooti who was the son of Rukirabasaija Kyebambe lll Nyamutukura Amooti, the king of Bunyoro. He broke away and formed his own independent kingdom, establishing the Tooro monarchy, continuing the ancient Babiito dynasty linked to the lengendary Kitara empire with earlier lengendary rulers like the Tembuzi and Chwezi.

Tooro existed as an independent kingdom until 1967 when Apollo Milton Obote banned all kingdoms in Uganda. The kingdoms were reinstated as cultural institutions in 1993.

Today, the Omukama of Tooro and the other kings play a vital role in Ugandan politics as cultural leaders and agents of peace and stability in their respective kingdoms. Tooro and Bunyoro kingdoms enjoy a close relationship.

Election of kings

Tooro kingdom runs a hereditary system of succession, and the successor is determined by royal lineage.

Current kingship

The current Omukama wa Tooro is Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who ascended the throne in 1995 at the age of three. He is the 12th ruler of this kingdom, which originated as a seccession from Bunyoro Kingdom.

List of Abakama ba (Kings of) Tooro

The following is a list of the Abakama of Tooro:

|-

|3

|Nyaika Kasunga Kyebambe I

|1866–1871

|1st time

|-

|4

|Kato Rukidi I

|1871

|

|-

|5

|Nyaika Kasunga Kyebambe I

|1871–1872

|2nd time

|-

|6

|Nyaika Mukabirere Olimi II

|1872–1875

|

|-

|7

|Isingoma Rukidi II

|1875

|

|-

|8

|Rubuubi Kyebambe II

|1875

|1st time

|-

|9

|Kakende Nyanuyonjo

|1875–1876

|1st time

|-

|10

|Katera

|1876–1877

|

|-

|11

|Rubuubi Kyebambe II

|1877–1879

|2nd time

|-

|12

|Kakende Nyanuyonjo

|1879–1880

|2nd time; Interregnum under Bunyoro rule followed Kakende's reign, lasting from 1880 to 1891

|-

|13

|Daudi Kasagama Kyebambe IV

|1891–1928

|

|-

|14

|George David Matthew Kamurasi Rukidi III

|1928–1965

|

|-

|15

|Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo (Rwamuhokya) Olimi III

|1965–1995

|Monarchy abolished by the Ugandan government between 1967 and 1993

|-

|16

|Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV

|1995–present

|

|}

See also

  • Omukama of Bunyoro
  • Kabaka of Buganda
  • Tooro Kingdom
  • Omugabe of Ankole
  • Omukama

References