Acholi Cultural Institution Offers Royal Regalia for Tooro King’s Enthronement

The regalia handed by Acholi Paramount Chief David Onen Acana II for the anointment of the Tooro King Elect Edward Rukidi Kijanagoma Nyabongo I.

The Acholi Cultural Institution, Ker Kwaro Acholi, has presented traditional royal regalia and sacred gifts to the Babiito royal clan to facilitate the enthronement of Tooro’s new king, in a ceremony that signifies the longstanding cultural ties between the Luo and Bito royal traditions.

The regalia was delivered on Monday evening to the head of the Babiito royal clan by a delegation from Ker Kwaro Acholi, acting on the instructions of Acholi Paramount Chief Rwot David Onen Acana II. The presentation came as the king underwent final traditional rituals ahead of his coronation.

The items included two royal spears, a leopard skin, shea butter oil regarded as sacred for the anointing of chiefs, sesame oil and a royal bracelet known in Luo as Ogul Mola, among other traditional items.

Martin Okumu, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Land and Finance at Ker Kwaro Acholi, said the exchange of royal regalia is rooted in an ancient relationship among the Acholi, Banyoro and Batooro, particularly the historical links between the Luo and Bito royal lineages.

“There is a quiet royal diplomacy that takes place. Because if the Paramount Chief of Acholi, especially the Chief of Payira, is being anointed, the same special regalia is also taken there by the Tooro and Banyoro royal elders,” Okumu said. He said the practice is reciprocal, with the different cultural institutions exchanging royal regalia during significant traditional ceremonies.

“It is not one way. It is reciprocal that we exchange these royal regalia as the cultural norms and practices allow,” he said. Okumu said Ker Kwaro Acholi remains committed to strengthening its relationship with the Tooro Kingdom and expressed hope that the new Omukama’s reign would be marked by peace and stability.

“We look forward to the Omukama taking his role. It is a special role following the demise of the previous Omukama. We only pray as Acholi that everything is stable, everything is peaceful in Tooro. We shall give all support to the new Omukama,” he said.

He added that Ker Kwaro Acholi would continue working with the new Omukama, his subjects and other cultural institutions across Uganda to promote cultural cooperation and development.

The delegation that delivered the regalia included Prince Emmanuel Bwomono, Prince Francis Ochira and Prince Samuel Opoka, who were appointed by Paramount Chief Acana II to represent the Acholi institution.

Prince Edward Rukidi Kijjanangoma Nyabongo I, was selected by the Babiito royal clan on September 9, 2026, to succeed Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who succumbed to cancer a month ago.

The latest presentation follows a similar ritual performed during and after the burial of King Oyo on September 12 at the Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal. During that ceremony, an Acholi delegation led by Okumu presented the Musuuga with a leopard skin and nine coffee beans as part of the Luo-Bito royal burial traditions.

According to Okumu, the nine coffee beans symbolised life, blood and royalty, while the leopard skin represented the royal resting place of a Mubiito king. The exchange of the regalia therefore serves not only as part of the traditional rites surrounding the installation of the new Omukama, but also as a reaffirmation of the historical cultural links between the Luo and Bito royal traditions-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com

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