The Tooro Kingdom is one of the 17 recognised traditional kingdoms located within the borders of Uganda.
The people native to the kingdom are the Batooro, and their language is likewise called Rutooro. 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. The Batooro live on Uganda's western border, south of Lake Albert
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History
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.
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.
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.
The Batooro people have a strong culture but similar in stratification to Banyoro. They have a strong cultural naming system (PET NAME) known as Empaako. With the Empaako naming system, children are given one of twelve names shared across the communities in addition to their given and family names. 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.
Use of Empaako can defuse tension or anger and sends a strong message about social identity and unity, peace and reconciliation. The Empaako names are: Amooti, Abooki, Akiiki, Ateenyi, Adyeeri, Atwooki, Abwooli, Araali, Acaali, Bbala, and Okaali.
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.