Tooro Kingdom
Bantu kingdom in mid-western Uganda
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Tooro Kingdom is one of the 17 recognised traditional kingdoms located within the borders of Uganda.
Kingdom of Tooro Obukama bwa Tooro (Tooro) | |
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Flag
 Coat of arms
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| Anthem: "Agutamba" | |
.png) Location of Tooro (red) in Uganda (pink). | |
| Status | Traditional kingdom |
| Capital and largest city | Fort Portal |
| Official languages | Rutooro, English |
| Rutooro | Rutooro |
| Ethnic groups | many ethnicities but the indigenous are; Batooro, Bakonzo, Babwisi, Bamba, Batuku and Songora[citation needed] |
| Demonym | Tooro |
| Government | Constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I |
| Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki | |
| Legislature | Orukurato Orukuru |
| Independence | |
• from the Kingdom of Bunyoro | 1830, 1876 |
• Monarchy abolished | 1967 |
• Monarchy restored | 1993 |
| Currency | Ugandan shilling |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Calling code | 256 |
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The people native to the kingdom are the Batooro, and their language is likewise called Rutooro.[1][2] The Batooro and those of the neighbouring kingdom of Bunyoro, speak the Runyoro/Rutooro dialect of the Runyakitara language and share a similar background and cultural traits.[2] The Batooro live on Uganda's western border, south of Lake Albert[1]
History
The Tooro Kingdom evolved out of a breakaway segment of Bunyoro sometime before the nineteenth century.[3] It was founded in 1830 when Omukama Kaboyo Olimi I, the eldest son of Omukama of Bunyoro Nyamutukura Kyebambe III of Bunyoro, seceded and established his own independent kingdom.[2][1] Absorbed into Bunyoro-Kitara in 1876, it reasserted its independence in 1891.
In 1967, with the ratification of the Third constitution of Uganda, Tooro's monarchy was abolished, alongside the monarchies of Bunyoro, Buganda, Ankole, and Busoga, but was reinstated in 1993.[1]
Cultural influence
The Austrian painter Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928–2000) spent some time there in the 1960s where he painted a number of works and named them after the kingdom.[4][5]
The Batooro people have a strong culture but similar in stratification to Banyoro.[6] They have a strong cultural naming system (PET NAME) known as Empaako.[7][8] With the Empaako naming system, children are given one of twelve names shared across the communities in addition to their given and family names.[8][9] Addressing someone by his or her Empaako is a positive affirmation of cultural ties. It can be used as a form of greeting or a declaration of affection, respect, honour or love.[8][7]
Use of Empaako can defuse tension or anger and sends a strong message about social identity and unity, peace and reconciliation.[8][10] The Empaako names are: Amooti, Abooki, Akiiki, Ateenyi, Adyeeri, Atwooki, Abwooli, Araali, Acaali, Bbala, and Okaali.[8][10][9]
Abakama ba Tooro (Kings of Tooro)
The following is a list of the Abakama of Tooro since 1800:
- Olimi I: 1822–1865
- Ruhaga of Tooro: 1865–1866
- Nyaika Kyebambe I: 1866–1871 and 1871–1872
- Rukidi I: 1871
- Olimi II: 1872–1875
- Rukidi II: 1875–1875
- Rububi Kyebambe II: 1875 and 1877–1879
- Kakende Nyamuyonjo: 1875–1876 and 1879–1880
- Katera: 1876–1877
- Interregnum, reverted to Bunyoro: 1880–1891
- Kyebambe III: 1891–1928
- Rukidi III: 1929–1965
- Olimi III: 1965–1967 and 1993–1995
- in pretence: 1967–1993 (monarchy abolished)
- Rukidi IV: 1995–2026
- Nyabongo I, September 2026 upto date.[11][12]
See also
Bibliography
- Ingham, Kenneth. The Kingdom of Toro in Uganda. London: Methuen, 1975.