The newsroom at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) erupted in celebration on Wednesday evening after news spread that veteran news anchor and editor Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma had been named the next Omukama of Tooro.
The announcement, relayed through the office of the Musuuga, the traditional seat responsible for guiding the kingdom through succession matters, triggered scenes of jubilation among UBC staff, many of whom have worked alongside Kijanangoma for years.
For a newsroom accustomed to reporting major events, suddenly finding one of its own at the centre of one of the country’s biggest stories proved an unusual moment. Several reporters interviewed after the announcement struggled to put their excitement into words, repeatedly settling for a simple refrain: “Just know we are happy.”
Among them was UBC reporter Faridah Nanfuka, who described Kijanangoma as a humble, hardworking and deeply professional colleague. “We are just excited. Everyone is dancing, and others are jumping all over,” Nanfuka said, capturing the mood that swept through the station’s corridors.
Nasir Lubwama, another UBC staff member, urged caution, explaining that the newsroom had previously witnessed unconfirmed announcements. “We have had fake announcements before, and we need to get the official announcement, but regardless, we are happy,” Lubwama said.
For millions of Ugandans, Kijanangoma has long been recognised as the calm and measured voice behind UBC’s English news bulletins. He has anchored major editions including UBC Tonight at 8 and UBC at Ten, and previously hosted the station’s PPU programme, which covered the President’s activities and events before it was discontinued. Over the years, his broadcasting style has been characterised by an unhurried delivery, professionalism and a steady presence on air.
Those qualities, colleagues say, are also reflected in his conduct away from the cameras. They describe him as measured in his speech, deliberate in his manner and consistent even under the pressure of a busy newsroom. For many at UBC, those characteristics have made his transition from journalist to royal figure seem almost fitting.
Kijanangoma had been away from the station for about two months, reportedly on sick leave, when his name emerged in the succession process. His emergence comes barely two weeks after the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died on August 27, 2026, aged 34.
The death of King Oyo was announced by the Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, bringing to an end a 31-year reign that began when Oyo ascended the throne at the age of three in 1995.
Oyo became the world’s youngest reigning monarch and, during his reign, championed causes including youth empowerment, education, climate conservation and health advocacy. He also served as a global ambassador for HIV/AIDS awareness.
Following his death, the Babiito royal clan, which holds responsibility for determining the succession, indicated that the process would not follow the conventions of a modern public announcement. Instead, the identification of the next Omukama was expected to unfold through a series of traditional rituals connected to King Oyo’s burial and other succession ceremonies, with the identity of the new king gradually becoming apparent through participation in those rites.
It is against that traditional backdrop that Kijanangoma’s name has now emerged. At UBC, however, the formalities of royal succession have momentarily given way to a more personal celebration.
Reporters, editors and technical staff who spent years working alongside Kijanangoma now find themselves watching a familiar colleague prepare to occupy one of the oldest and most prominent traditional thrones in the region.
For a man whose voice has long been associated with the evening news, colleagues say the prospect of hearing that same calm voice speak with the authority of the Omukama offers an extraordinary twist to a career spent telling the stories of others-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
