Business came to a standstill in Fort Portal City on Monday afternoon as thousands of residents lined the streets to catch a glimpse of Tooro’s king designate, Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I.
Nyabongo was passing through the city from a private residence in Buheesi Town Council Bunyangabu District where he has been receiving cultural orientation and training from Tooro cultural leaders as he prepares for his new role. He was heading to Rwengoma Palace where he will spend Monday evening before embarking on a traditional procession to Karuziika Palace later in the night.
The procession will begin at 10pm when Nyabongo will leave Rwengoma Palace accompanied by a crowd carrying traditional lamps made from reeds. The procession will move through Fort Portal City before reaching Karuziika Palace at 3am.
At Karuziika, Nyabongo will enter through the Mugabante gate where he will take part in a traditional mock battle and emerge victorious before proceeding into the palace. He will then take his seat on the royal throne and perform other traditional rituals like turning upright the royal drums and beating each of them nine times.
Other royal regalia including spears will also be turned upright. The sculptures of lions inside and outside Karuziika Palace which were covered during the mourning period following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV will also be uncovered.
Other rituals will continue throughout the night ahead of the coronation ceremony on Tuesday. The coronation will begin with a church service at St John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal before the main ceremony at Karuziika Palace.
Residents who gathered along the streets on Monday expressed excitement at seeing their king designate for the first time. Clovis Tibigambirwe said he was happy to see Nyabongo and would join the night procession.
Tibigambirwe said he wants the new king to revive the relationship between the kingdom and its subjects and ensure that everyone is included in kingdom activities. Stephen Katurebe said he was honored to see the king designate for the first time and is looking forward to his coronation on Tuesday-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
