HISTORY
Their own historical traditions describe a group of alien gods who brought centralized government, a kingdom, and cattle to them in ancient times. Historians can identify a Nyoro kingdom in the región about five centuries ago—the Bunyoro- Kitara empire. Tooro became a separate kingdom around 1830. They lost out to Buganda expansión, however, later in the nineteenth century.
The Tooro Kingdom evolved out of a breakaway segment of Bunyoro sometime before the nineteenth century. 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. Absorbed into Bunyoro-Kitara in 1876, it reasserted its independence in 1891. As with Buganda, Bunyoro, and Busoga, Tooro’s monarchy was abolished in 1967 by the Government of Uganda, but was reinstated in 1993.
The first kings were of the Batembuzi dynasty. Batembuzi means harbingers or pioneers. The batembuzi and their reign are not well documented, and are surrounded by a lot of myth and oral legend. There is very little concurrence among scholars regarding the Batembuzi time period in history, even the names and successive order of individual kings. It is believed that their reign dates back to the height of Africa’s bronze age. The number of individual batembuzi reigns, as given by different scholars, ranges from nine to twenty one.
The Bachwezi dynasty are credited with the founding of the ancient empire of Kitara; which included areas of present day central, western, and southern Uganda; northern Tanzania, western kenya, and eastern Congo. Very little is documented about them. Their entire reign was shrouded in mystery, so much so that they were accorded the status of demi gods and worshipped by various clans. Many traditional gods in Toro, Bunyoro and Buganda have typical kichwezi (adjective) names like Ndahura, Mulindwa, Wamara, Kagoro, etc
The Toro believe that legendary Tembuzi kings created the earliest centralized political organization in the area and that these people were succeeded by the Cwezi and then by the Bito—a Nilotic people who had come from the north. Led by Prince Kaboyo, the Toro seceded from the Bito-ruled Bunyoro kingdom about 1830. Royal regalia were received from the Bunyoro rulers, and, as Kaboyo consolidated and extended his kingdom, he gained Bito support. In the late 1880s the Bunyoro king Kabarega temporarily reconquered the Tooro. A Tooro prince escaped and was restored to the Tooro throne by British colonizers in the 1890s in exchange for loyalty, taxation, and the cession of forest and mineral rights to British concerns. During colonial times, the Tooro kingdom was a subordinate, African local government.
The Tooro live in settlements occupying demarcated lands; different clans are found in each. Most Tooro families are monogamous and households small. Descent is patrilineal, and named lineages within a clan are not hierarchically organized. Lineage heads are “fatherly advisers” who settle disputes; in former times they also maintained contact with the king.
Traditionally the Batooro society has been distinguished with the Economic activities but not the caste. There are two classes among the Batooro, the Bairu and Bahuma category of people. The Bairu are known to be the land cultivators while as the Bahuma are believed to be cattle keepers. The two categories of people have been significant in the production of meat, milk, butter, ghee as well as the food products needed, they grew crops such as the Millet, bananas, sweat potatoes, Sorghum, vegetation and peas among others. The Batooro are very united people and led by their unifying leader Omukama who is their cultural leader under the constitution.
The Batooro inhabit the districts of Kabarole, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Kitagwenda and Ntoroko. Their area has been a host of many migrants from other parts of western Uganda, particularly the Bakiga, Bafumbira and Banyarwanda. The areas of Tooro area close to Mountain Rwenzori are mainly inhabited by Bakonjo tribe. To their east live Banyoro; to their north are the Bamba and Bakonjo; to their southeast and west live Banyankore and to their east live the Baganda.
FAMILY TIES & GENEALOGY
Every Mutooro child born is automatically a member of the Batooro tribe. Apart from the standard naming ceremonies, which take place at a very early age, there are no strict rites of passage, as found in some of the other Uganda tribes.
Every Mutooro child has his or her own “last name”! The reason for this is very simple. Rutooro names must have a meaning; they must say something about the prevailing conditions or circumstances surrounding the birth of the child being named.
A name may reflect a significant event that was taking place at the time of the child’s birth. There are standard names for twins and the children following those twins. (Females Twins (Nyangoma/Nyakato), Male Twins (Isingoma/Kato) After Abarongo (twins): Kiiza (both sexes) After Kiiza: Kaahwa (both sexes) After: Kaahwa: Irumba if a boy, Nsungwa if a girl then Barongo if boy or Nyamahunge if girl).
The names are chosen by the family elders who sit around a good meal, sipping some local brew, and informally choose a name for the new baby.
This takes place when the baby is four days old in the case of males, and at three days old, in the case of females.
With the coming of Islam and Christianity, in the late 19th century, the tradition of giving the child a religious name on top of the traditional name started.
While the tribal name is always in the tribal language, the religious name may be an Arabic name for muslims, an English or French name for Christians.
Bible names are very popular with Christians. Since circumstances and events are ever changing and not the same for every child, it would be erroneous to give an umbrella “family” name to all the children born into a family.
The clan lays out our lineage and establishes our blood relationships. This is very important and taken very seriously to avoid inbreeding. It is taboo for a mutooro to marry someone from his/her clan or that of his/her mother’s clan.
This taboo applies even to distant cousins several times removed. An exception to this taboo has traditionally been granted to our royal family, who, in an effort to maintain their true blue blood lines, have been known to break with tradition and marry within their own or their mother’s clans.
Every mutooro child born takes his/her father’s clan. When “girl meets boy”, they must disclose their clans and those of their mothers at the very outset, to avoid violating a taboo.
OUR PAST KINGS
1995
Rukirabasaija Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV (13th), commonly known as King Oyo, is the reigning Omukama of Tooro. He was born on 16 April 1992 to King Patrick David Mathew Kaboyo Olimi III and Queen Best Kemigisa Kaboyo. Three and half years later in 1995, Oyo ascended the throne and succeeded his father to become the 12th ruler of the Kingdom of Tooro.
1966
Rukirabasaija Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo (Rwamuhokya) Olimi III (9 September 1945 – 26 August 1995) was the 11th Omukama of the Tooro Kingdom and reigned from 1965 until his death in 1995.
He was son of Rukirabasaija Sir George David Matthew Kamurasi Rukidi III, Omukama of Tooro, who reigned from 1928 until 1965. His mother was Lady Byanjeru Kezia Bonabana. He was born at the Royal Palace at Kabarole, on 9 September 1945 with Princess Elizabeth Bagaya as his eldest sister. He ascended to the throne upon the death of his father, on 21 December 1965. He was crowned at St John’s Cathedral, Kabarole, on 2 March 1966.
1928
Rukirabasaija Sir George David Matthew Kamurasi Rukidi III (10th)
He was son of the tenth Omukama of Toro Kyebambe III of Tooro, who reigned from 1928 until 1965. His mother was Damali Tibaitwa. He was born at the Royal Palace at Kabarole, on 6 March 1904. He ascended to the throne upon the death of his father, on 31 December 1928. He was crowned at St John’s Cathedral, Kabarole, on 29 January 1929
Rukirabasaija Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV
1891
Rukirabasaija Daudi Kasagama Kyebambe IV (9th) was Omukama (King) of the Tooro Kingdom from 1891 until 1928.
He was the eldest surviving son of Rukirabasaija Nyaika Mukabirere Olimi II. His mother was Vikitoria Kahinju. In 1875, following the death of his father, he fled with his mother and two brothers to Ankole. While there, his two elder brothers were murdered on the orders of the Queen Mother of Ankole, He then took refuge in Buganda.
He signed a Treaty with the Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEAC), and was proclaimed at Kabarole, by Lord Lugard, August 14, 1891. He was installed as Omukama of Tooro on August 16, 1891.
1879
Rukirabasaija Kakende Nyamuyonjo was Omukama of the Tooro Kingdom from 1875 until 1876 and from 1879 until 1880. He was the eighth (8th) Omukama of Tooro.
Omukama Kakende was raised to the throne in 1875 following the flight of his older brother, Rububi Kyebambe II, with the help of an invading army from Buganda. However, when the army left the Tooro Kingdom in 1876, Omukama Kakende left with them. He returned with another army from Buganda in 1879 and deposed his brother Rububi Kyebambe II. He ruled until 1880.
1876
Rukirabasaija Katera was Omukama of the Tooro Kingdom, from 1876 until 1877. He was the ninth Omukama of Tooro
He was the sixth son of Kasunga Kyebambe Nyaika. He was raised to the throne by the Tooro people, when his elder brother Kakende Nyamuyonjo failed to return from Buganda in 1876.
Omukama Katera ruled until 1877 when his elder brother, Rububi Kyebambe II returned to the Tooro Kingdom and deposed him in 1877.
1875
Rubuubi Kyebambe IIl was Omukama of the Tooro Kingdom, in 1875 and from 1877 until 1879. He was the seventh (7th) Omukama of Tooro.
He was the fourth son of Kasunga Kyebambe Nyaika.. He ascended to the throne following the abdication of his elder brother, Rukirabasaija Isingoma Rukidi II in 1875.
However, later that year, the Tooro Kingdom was invaded by the Bunyoro Army under the command of Chief Kikukule of Bugangaizi. He fled to Buganda. Two years later, he returned and deposed his younger brother, Omukama Katera, in 1877. He ruled until he himself was deposed in 1879.
1875
Rukirabasaija Isingoma Rukidi II was Omukama of the Tooro Kingdom for a few months in 1875. He was the sixth Omukama of Tooro.
He was the third son of Kasunga Kyebambe Nyaika. He ascended to the throne following the capture of his brother, Rukirabasaija Nyaika Mukabirere Olimi II, the fifth (5th), by the Bunyoro Army in 1875.
Omukama Rukidi II was not able to hold on to the throne for very long. He abdicated after a few months in favor of his younger brother, Kakende Nyamuyonjo.
1872
Rukirabasaija Kasunga Nyaika Kyebambe l was Omukama of the Tooro Kingdom, from 1872 until 1875. He was the fifth (5th) Omukama of Tooro.
He was the eldest son of Kaboyo Olimi l. He ascended to the throne following the death of his father in 1872.
In 1875, Omukama Olimi II was captured and deported to Bunyoro by an army sent by Omukama Chwa II Kabarega. He escaped when British and Buganda forces invaded Bunyoro in 1893/1894. However, he died before he was able to return to the Tooro Kingdom.
1871
Rukirabasaija Kato Rukidi I (kajjaju) was Omukama of the Tooro Kingdom, from 1871 until 1871. He was the fourth (4th) Omukama of Tooro.
He was the fifth son of Rukirabasaija Kaboyo Omuhundwa Kasusunkwanzi Olimi I. He rebelled against his elder brother, Kyebambe Nyaika in 1871, with the help of an invading army from Buganda. He seized the throne and Omukama Nyaika fled and went into hiding.
His reign was a very short one. Some accounts say it lasted only two months. He was deposed by his subjects and his brother Kyebambe Nyaika returned to the throne.
1862
Rukirabasaija Kasunga Kyebambe Nyaika was Omukama of the Kingdom of Tooro, from 1862 to 1863, and 1864 to 1874. He was the third (3rd) Omukama of Tooro.
He was the fourth (4th) son of Rukirabasaija Kaboyo Omuhundwa Kasusunkwanzi Olimi I, the first Omukama of Tooro. He killed his elder brother Rukirabasaija Kazana Ruhaga, in 1862, and ascended the throne by force.
He was forced to flee when the Kingdom of Toro was invaded by an army from Buganda, in support of Kato Rukidi I, who rebelled against his uncle (Nyaika), briefly seized the throne and declared himself Omukama. After a few months, Kato Rukidi I was overthrown by his subjects and Omukama Nyaika returned to the throne.
1861
Rukirabasaija Kazana Ruhaga was Omukama of the Tooro Kingdom, from around 1861 to 1862. He was the second (2nd) Omukama of Tooro.
He was the third son of Olimi I. He ascended the throne upon the death of his father in 1861.
Omukama Ruhaga was murdered by his brother, Kasunga Kyebambe Nyaika, in 1866. Nyaika then seized the throne and became the Omukama.
1822
Rukirabasaija Kaboyo Omuhundwa Kasusunkwanzi Olimi I was Omukama of the Tooro Kingdom, from around 1830 until around 1861. He was the first (1st) Omukama of Tooro.
He was the eldest son of Rukirabasaija Agutamba Nyamutukura Kyebambe III, Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara at that time. His mother was a lady of the Ababwiju clan. He rebelled against his father and established his own kingdom at Kaboyo during his father’s lifetime, beginning in 1822. He spurned the succession to Bunyoro-Kitara on his father’s death.