Rukidi III of Tooro


Rukidi III of Tooro was Omukama of the Tooro Kingdom from 1928 until 1965. He was the 11th Omukama of Tooro.

Claim to the throne

He was son of the tenth Omukama of Toro Kyebambe III of Tooro, Omukama of Tooro, who reigned from 1928 until 1965. His mother Damali Tibaitwa. He was born at the Royal Palace at Kabarole, on 6 March 1904. He attended Budo Primary School, Nyakasura School in Fort Portal, Mengo Senior School, King's College Budo and Columbia University. He served as inspector in the Uganda Police Force in 1926. 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.

His reign

Omukama Kamurasi Rukidi III attended the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London in 1953. He was made an Honorary Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, of the King's African Rifles, from 1928 until 1930. He founded and was the Sovereign Grand Master of the Order of the Lion, Crown and Shield of Toro. He was knighted on 2 June 1962 and received several medals and commendations from the British government, Ugandan government and from the Government of Buganda.

Married life

Omukama Rukidi III married five wives according to tradition;
  • Omugo Kezia Bonabana Byanjeru of the Abagabu clan who was the principal wife
  • Omugo Evelyn Kahinju of the Ababoopi clan who resided at Harukoto and was known as Omugo wa Harukoto
  • Omugo Theodora Bacwa Abwooli who resided at Kabahango Palace
  • Omugo Akiiki Katukura of the Abaitira clan from Busongora county
  • Omugo Leah Ngaju, a Princess from Bunyoro,she was a daughter of Omubiito Yoweri Komwiswa, a grandchild of Omukama Kabalega of Bunyoro

Offspring

The children of Omukama Kamurasi Rukidi III included;
  1. Prince Stephen Edgar Paul Karamagi, whose mother was Omugo Evelyn Kahinju He was born in 1934. Attended Nyakasura School, Kabarole, King's College, Budo, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and Columbia University, New York, US. He worked as a diplomat, for the Uganda Government in the 1960s. In 1963, he married Margaret Semugeshi, daughter of Chief Semugeshi, of Bufundu, in Butare, Rwanda.
  2. Prince Ruyonga, whose mother was Omugo Theodora Bacwa. He was born at the Royal Palace, Kabarole, on 27 March 1935.
  3. Prince Emanuel Erasmus Ishagara, whose mother was Omugo Theodora Bacwa Abwooli. Born at the Royal Palace at Kabarole on 27 March 1935. Attended St. Peter's School and St. Luke's College, Virika. On 21 December 1966, he married, at St. Paul's Cathedral, Namirembe, Catherine Rosette, daughter of Erieza Sebabi, sometime Ssabalamuzi of Buganda, by his wife, Mary Nanfuka. Prince Emmanuel Ishagara fathered three sons and one daughter: Prince David Kamurasi Ishagara. He was born at Nsambya Hospital, Kampala, on 11 February 1967. He attended Namilyango College and ITT Technical Institute, London. In October 1997, he married Irene N. Kasozi-Batende, at Camden, London. Together, they a daughter; Princess Joanita Kakyo Komubaizi Prince Solomon Michael Okwiri Adyeri Ishagara. He was born at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, on 11 June 1973. He was educated at Busoga College Mwiri, Baruch College and TCI College of Technology, New York City Prince Emmanuel Ishagara Jr. He was born at Mulago Hospital on 9 September 1977. He attended Busoga College, Mwiri, Baruch College, New York and Park University, Kansas City, Missouri, US and Princess Sandra Ishagara. She was born at Nsambya Hospital, Kampala, on 29 December 1969. She attended King's College, Buddo, South Thames College. She is the mother of a son and a daughter: Josh Kasozi, born on 27 April 2004 and Chauntel Grace S. Ishagara Kendall, born on 18 May 1996..
  4. Rukirabasaija Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III Omukama of Toro, from 1965 until 1995, the twelfth Omukama of Toro, whose mother was Kezia Bonabana.
  5. Prince Nyaika. He fathered two sons: Prince Charles Happy Kijanangoma, who was born in 1956. Prince Kijanangoma was killed by an associate of the Katikiro of Toro, in a public bar in Fort Portal, on 25 March 1999 and Lieutenant Prince Ronald Rubale, a member of the UPDF.
  6. Prince James Desmond Mugenyi Muzimanuki whose mother was Omugo Kezia was born in 1947 He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Uganda Army. He was dismissed from the army by Idi Amin in 1972. He became a Regent for his nephew, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, on 26 August 1994.
  7. Prince Kenneth Muhangura son of Princess Leah Ngaju.
  8. Prince Gilbert Mujogya son of Princess Leah Ngaju.
  9. Prince Charles Kamurasi Akiiki, son of Princess Leah Ngaju serves as the Omusuga head of the royal clan.
  10. Princess Gertrude Kabege Katongole Atwooki whose mother was Omugo Evelyn Kahinju
  11. Princess Elizabeth of Tooro, whose mother was Kezia. She was born at Fort Portal, on 9 February 1936. She attended Kyebambe Girls' School, Toro, Gayaza High School, Wakiso District, Sherborne School, Dorset, Girton College, Cambridge, and Lincoln's Inn, London. She became the first East African woman to be admitted to the English Bar. She was installed as Batebeto her brother Patrick David Matthew Koboyo Olimi III, on 2 March 1966. She served as Uganda' Ambassador-at-Large between 1971 and 1973, Uganda's Ambassador to Egypt and Ethiopia from 1973 until 1974, and Uganda's Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York in 1974. She was Uganda's Minister for Foreign Affairs between February 1974 and November 1974. She served as Spokesperson for the National Resistance Movement in Europe, between 1980 and 1986. She was Uganda's Ambassador to the United States of America from 1986 until 1988, and to Germany and the Vatican between 2006 and 2008. She serves as Uganda's High Commissioner to Nigeria since 2008. She is the author of African Princess and Elizabeth of Toro: the Odyssey of an African Princess
  12. Princess Mabel Komuntale. Member of the Regency Council to King Oyo Rukidi IV from 1995 until 1997.whose mother was Omugo Kezia
  13. Princess Rachel Kabasweka Abwooli whose mother was Omugo Kezia.
  14. Princess Rosemary Kijumba Balinda Abwooli
  15. Princess Damali Komukyeya, whose mother was Omugo Kezia.
  16. Princess Kijumba Kabaramagi, whose mother was Omugo Kezia.
  17. Princess Kezia Kanyomozi, whose mother was Omugo Kezia.
  18. Princess Elizabeth Mpanja Ndahendekire, whose mother was Omugo Kezia.married Lt col. William Ndahendekire
  19. Princess Margret Juliana Komubaizi Abwooli serves as assistant Batebe
  20. Princess Agnes Nkwenge Bunyenyezi whose mother was Omugo Evelyn Kahinju
  21. Prince Apollo Loyd Mugema, whose mother was Omugo Evelyn Kahinju
  22. Prince Gerald Philip Manyindo, whose mother was Omugo Evelyn Kahinju he married Catherine Kabasomi Byabusa on 1 May 1975 he is the father to Prince Edward Freeman Kim, Princess Juliana Kanyomozi and Princess Laura Kahunde
  23. Prince Bazil Mirembe, whose mother was Omugo Evelyn Kahinju.
  24. Princess Lucy Makulima Matama

The final years

He died at the Royal Palace, Kabarole, on 21 December 1965. He was buried at Karambi Royal Tombs,.