FORT PORTAL – Shs 1.2 billion is needed to fund activities aimed at marking 27 years of Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV as king of Tooro Kingdom.
The kingdom is to hold anniversary celebrations commonly known as Empango for Oyo scheduled to take place on September 12, 2022, at Tooro Palace at Karuzika hill in Fort Portal city.
According to the Kingdom’s minister of culture who doubles as the chairperson organising committee for the coronation anniversary celebrations, Peter Sunday Rusoke, the kingdom has only received pledges of money but are yet to be fulfilled.
Rusoke said Tooro Kingdom will also be celebrating 200 years of existence.
“This year’s celebrations are very unique because we are also celebrating 200 years since the Kingdom broke off from Bunyoro Kitara in 1822. I, therefore, call upon everyone to support us so as to make our day successful,” Rusoke said.
On September 12 of every year, Tooro Kingdom celebrates King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV coronation anniversary since he ascended to the throne in 1995 at the age of three years.
King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV ascended to the throne after the death of his father King David Patrick Olimi Kaboyo, making him the youngest ruling monarch in the whole world.
Rusoke said this year’s celebrations will be organised by all clans that form Tooro Kingdom.
He said as a way of mobilising funds for the function, each of the nine counties forming the Kingdom will contribute Shs 30 million, each clan will contribute Shs 2mln and each Kingdom minister will contribute not less than Shs 200,000.
Counties of Kitagwenda,Fort Portal,Ntoroko,Kyaka,Bunyangabu,Burahya,Mwenge North,Mwenge Central and South make up Tooro Kingdom and has more than 70 clans.
“As we mark 200 years, we are planning to set up a memorial building in Fort Portal city worth Shs 5bln,” Rusoke said.
He said they have reached out to corporates and other agencies who promised to support them.
“Some corporate companies have promised to give us items, not cash. Others have promised to sponsor some of our activities like MTN which already sponsored bicycle riding competition which is one of the activities that are ongoing in the Kingdom’s counties,” he said.
Rusoke said they have instituted a committee to write Tooro Kingdom history books that will be supplied in all schools in the Kingdom.
The Kingdom’s first deputy Prime Minister Harriet Nyakake called on the general public, well-wishers, Batooro in Diaspora to contribute towards this year’s celebrations.
Nyakake said as the Kingdom celebrates 200 years of existence, this is a historical event that should not live anyone behind and is worth celebrating.
“On this day, we shall be celebrating our achievements in 200 years so it should be known to the whole world by making it one of a kind in the history of our Kingdom” she noted.
Tooro Kingdom was founded in 1822 when Omukama Kaboyo Olimi I, the eldest son of Omukama of Bunyoro Nyamutukura Kyebambe III of Bunyoro, broke away and established his own independent kingdom.
Tooro Kingdom was part of the large empire of Kitara, under the reign of the Babiito dynasty, which dates back to the 16th century.
https://thecooperator.news/tooro-king-urges-the-public-to-conserve-environment/
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