The Nyabongo I coronation has brought a fresh wave of excitement to Fort Portal as crowds welcomed Tooro’s king-designate, Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, ahead of his formal installation at Karuziika Palace.
Residents gathered along streets as Nyabongo I passed through Fort Portal, with many getting their first close glimpse of the man preparing to take the Tooro throne. The king-designate waved to people who had assembled along the route, adding to a festive atmosphere that has been building across the city.
The moment comes after weeks of mourning following the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV on August 27, 2026.
Now, Fort Portal is slowly shifting from mourning to a new chapter in Tooro’s royal history.
The city has been decorated with kingdom colours, flags and traditional structures as residents prepare for the coronation ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, September 29.
Fort Portal Transformed Ahead of Nyabongo I Coronation
Visitors entering Fort Portal are being greeted by a city noticeably different from an ordinary week.
Traditional arches known locally as akakomo have been erected at several major entry points.
They have appeared around Kisenyi on the Fort Portal-Bundibugyo road, Harubaho on the Fort Portal-Mbarara road, Mpanga along the Fort Portal-Kampala road and Kachwamba on the route toward Kasese.
Made using traditional royal reeds and grass thatching, the arches carry a deeper cultural meaning than simple decoration.
Former Tooro Kingdom Culture Minister Zebidayo Mwesige explained that such structures traditionally represent happiness and are used to welcome important visitors.
In this case, they have become part of Fort Portal’s welcome to its incoming traditional ruler.
Tooro Kingdom flags, Ugandan flags and royal symbols have also appeared around streets and public spaces, while major roundabouts have been decorated ahead of the ceremony.
Traditional Dancers Bring Tooro Culture to the Streets
The preparations have not been limited to decorations.
Traditional dancers have taken to Fort Portal’s streets, creating a lively atmosphere in the days before the Nyabongo I coronation.
Members of the Home of Talents Cultural Troupe performed traditional songs and orunyege dances around the city’s main roundabout as residents gathered to watch.
The performances were organised to encourage people to embrace the coronation celebrations and reconnect with Tooro’s cultural traditions.
For a kingdom emerging from mourning, the dancing has helped mark a noticeable change in mood.
Fort Portal is once again filled with music, cultural displays and conversations about the monarchy’s future.
Crowds Welcome Nyabongo I Through Fort Portal
One of the biggest moments in the build-up came when Nyabongo I travelled through Fort Portal.
Crowds gathered along the roads, and the king-designate acknowledged residents as his convoy passed through the city.
For some people, it was their first opportunity to see him since he was chosen to succeed the late Omukama Oyo.
The sight of Nyabongo I travelling through the city prompted spontaneous celebrations among some residents, including traditional dancing.
The response also showed how important the coming coronation has become for people who have never witnessed a change of monarch in Tooro during their lifetime.
Many younger residents were either not born or were too young to remember the previous enthronement.
That makes Tuesday’s ceremony a rare cultural event for an entire generation.
Nyabongo I Completes Traditional Preparations
Ahead of the formal coronation, Nyabongo I has been taking part in a series of traditional preparations connected to Tooro’s royal customs.
He visited the Karambi Royal Tombs, where Tooro’s former kings are buried, before proceeding with preparations linked to his accession.
The royal transition also involves Rwengoma Palace, which plays an important role in the accession process.
According to the kingdom’s final programme, Nyabongo I is expected to leave Rwengoma Palace on the night of September 28 and travel toward Karuziika Palace as part of the symbolic transfer of royal authority.
Traditional rites are expected to continue through the night before the public programme begins the following morning.
Nyabongo I Coronation Set for September 29
The coronation ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development confirmed the date during preparations for the royal transition.
The day’s programme is expected to combine Tooro traditional ceremonies with a Christian service.
A coronation service is planned at St John’s Cathedral before the main activities at Karuziika Palace.
The public is expected to begin arriving at the palace grounds early in the morning, with thousands of people anticipated to attend.
Kingdom organisers have said preparations are being made for a large crowd, with service providers putting final arrangements in place around the royal palace.
Thousands Expected in Fort Portal
The scale of preparations suggests Tuesday will be one of Fort Portal’s biggest cultural gatherings in recent years.
Kingdom officials have indicated that tens of thousands of people could attend the ceremony, including Tooro subjects, cultural leaders, government representatives and invited guests.
President Yoweri Museveni is expected to attend as chief guest, according to the official coronation programme reported ahead of the ceremony.
For local businesses, transport operators and hospitality providers, the influx of visitors is also likely to create a particularly busy period across Fort Portal.
Hotels, restaurants and transport services can expect increased activity as visitors arrive from different parts of Tooro and elsewhere in Uganda.
A Historic Moment for a New Generation
Beyond the royal ceremony itself, the Nyabongo I coronation carries special meaning for residents who have never witnessed the installation of a Tooro king.
Some people who spoke during preparations said they were looking forward to witnessing a coronation for the first time.
That sense of history is visible throughout Fort Portal.
Parents can bring children to experience traditions they may previously have known only through stories, photographs or previous coronation anniversary celebrations.
Elders, meanwhile, have an opportunity to pass down knowledge about Tooro’s customs and explain the meaning behind ceremonies, symbols and traditional performances.
The coronation is therefore becoming more than the installation of a monarch.
It is also becoming a major public display of Tooro’s cultural identity.
A New Chapter After a Period of Mourning
The celebrations arrive only weeks after the kingdom lost Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
He died on August 27 and was buried at the Karambi Royal Tombs on September 12.
His death placed the kingdom into mourning and triggered the process of selecting and preparing his successor.
That background gives the celebrations in Fort Portal a mixture of emotions.
Residents are still remembering the late king while preparing to receive a new Omukama.
For many, the coronation represents continuity rather than a complete break from the past.
The monarchy remains one of Tooro’s most recognisable cultural institutions, and the transition places responsibility on its new leader to preserve its traditions while engaging with the realities facing the kingdom today.
Tooro Culture Takes Centre Stage
The days surrounding the Nyabongo I coronation have also turned Fort Portal into a showcase of Tooro culture.
Traditional architecture, royal symbols, music and dance are visible across the city.
For visitors unfamiliar with the kingdom, the ceremony offers a rare opportunity to see traditions that normally receive much less public attention.
For the Batooro themselves, it provides an opportunity to celebrate a shared heritage.
Traditional institutions in Uganda no longer exercise the same political authority they once held historically, but they continue to play cultural and community roles.
In Tooro, the Omukama remains an important symbol of the kingdom’s history and identity.
Fort Portal Prepares for Coronation Day
As September 29 approaches, final preparations are continuing around Karuziika Palace and other important royal sites.
Decorations are in place.
Traditional performers are active across the city.
Residents are preparing to attend.
Visitors are arriving.
And at the centre of it all is Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, preparing to formally take his place as Tooro’s new Omukama.
The crowds that welcomed him through Fort Portal offered an early glimpse of the public excitement surrounding the transition.
After weeks marked by loss and mourning, attention is now turning toward what comes next.
When the coronation ceremonies begin, Fort Portal will not simply be hosting another public gathering.
It will be witnessing a rare moment in Tooro’s history — the beginning of a new royal reign and a ceremony that many residents are likely to remember for decades.
