The Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Reuben Kisembo, has challenged the newly installed Omukama of Tooro, Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, to center his reign on accountability, unity, youth empowerment, education, and environmental conservation.
Bishop Kisembo delivered the charge on Tuesday morning during a church service attended by the monarch, marking the start of a historic day that culminates in his formal crowning at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal City.
The service was the first time Omukama Nyabongo I had attended church publicly since his selection to succeed his cousin, the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who passed away on August 27 after leading the kingdom for 31 years. The late King Oyo was buried at the Karambi Royal Tombs on September 12.
The King attended the morning prayer service alongside his wife, Queen Rebecca Amoding, and members of the Babiito royal family, led by Omujwera Musuuga Charles Kamurasi, the head of the royal clan.
Bishop Kisembo noted that the new King’s selection had generated strong goodwill among the population and urged him to harness that support to strengthen the kingdom.“People have already shown you love. We pray that you use that love to move this kingdom forward,” Bishop Kisembo said.
Addressing the institution of marriage, Bishop Kisembo urged the King to remain committed to a monogamous union with Queen Rebecca, emphasizing that the monarch had already exchanged Christian marriage vows.
“Our King is a Christian King, and I am advising you that you already have a wife and you made vows in church. I want you to keep that vow. We pray that you maintain that monogamy. As a church, we discourage polygamy,” Bishop Kisembo said.
The bishop also appealed to the Batooro to embrace Queen Rebecca, who hails from the Teso community, and give her space to learn and participate in Tooro’s cultural traditions.“As church leaders, we welcome her to Tooro, and we shall support her in all her projects,” Bishop Kisembo added, as Queen Rebecca prepares to take on a prominent public role in the administration.
The prelate urged the kingdom’s incoming administration to institutionalize financial transparency. He emphasized that the Tooro Kingdom must maintain systematic financial records and submit to annual audits.
“We want to have accountability of resources. We need to have books of accounts and [have them] audited annually. This has been the problem previously,” Bishop Kisembo said.
He further advised the King to maintain a strict administrative separation between assets owned by the kingdom and those held by the monarch as an individual, noting that clear boundaries would help prevent future property disputes.
Nyabongo I’s succession follows his selection by the Babiito royal clan and subsequent endorsement by the Tooro Kingdom Supreme Council. The transition has drawn public debate, with some members of the late King Oyo’s immediate family disputing the process and alleging the existence of a direct heir.
However, kingdom authorities maintain that the selection followed established customary procedures.
In his sermon, Bishop Kisembo called for the institutional strengthening of the Tooro Kingdom Supreme Council, the top decision-making body responsible for advising on kingdom governance, and urged that it be adequately resourced.
“The Supreme Council is the top organ and it has a big role in governing the kingdom. It must be empowered with the resources it needs,” he said.
On social development, the bishop tasked the new monarch with addressing youth unemployment and idleness.“We have many youth below 30 years who are idle. They are living reckless lives. Our King, tell them to work hard and avoid reckless lives,” Bishop Kisembo urged.
He also cautioned against rhetoric that discourages school fee payments, citing constitutional responsibilities and urging the monarch to champion education across Tooro.
“Our King, tell people to educate their children because Article 31 of the Constitution talks about the rights of parents, and among those rights is bringing up their children, which means they must pay fees for their children,” Bishop Kisembo said.
Additionally, the bishop asked Nyabongo I to build upon the environmental initiatives started by his predecessor, particularly tree-planting campaigns, and requested the public to offer unwavering support to the royal throne.
“People, please respect our King. That is the only King we have,” Bishop Kisembo said. “If the King comes to us asking for support to do other projects, let us support him.”The service was also attended by representatives of the Inter-Religious Council of Tooro, who joined in praying for the new reign.
Following the church service, Nyabongo I arrived back at Karuziika Palace at 11:50 a.m., where traditional ritualists (Abanyamirwa) welcomed him with trumpets, royal spears, and the sounding of drums to mark the start of the Amakondere royal trumpeters.
Shortly after the King entered the palace, President Yoweri Museveni arrived for the coronation ceremony, where the national and Tooro Kingdom anthems were performed together for the first time since the passing of King Oyo.
