Tooro Kingdom – Cultural Safari
Tooro Kingdom is one of six exceptional traditional kingdoms positioned on the borders of Uganda. So then, the Tooro is a Bantu kingdom located within the borders of Uganda in a beautiful area. The Tooro Kingdom is currently headed by Omukama “King Oyo” Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
Surprisingly, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukiri IV took over the throne of Tooro Kingdom in 1995 at the age of three years, after the death of his father, Omukama Patrick David Mathew Kaboyo Rwamuhokya OLIMI III, on August 26, 1995, when he was 50 years old.
This Tooro Kingdom is found in Fortportal town and the people native to the kingdom are the Batooro and their mother language is called Rutooro. The Batoro and Banyoro have closely related languages, Rutoro and Runyoro, and share many other cultural traits. The Batoro live on Uganda’s western border and south of Lake Albert.
Historically, the Tooro Kingdom evolved out of a breakaway segment of Bunyoro, which happened before the 19th century. The Kingdom was founded in 1830 when Omukama Kaboyo Olimi I am the eldest son of the Omukama of Bunyoro, Nyamutakura Kyebambe 111 of Bunyoro; it was when he seceded and created his own independent kingdom. It had to be absorbed into Bunyoro-Kitara in the year of 1876 and reasserted its independence in 1891.
In the year of 1967 the Baganda, Bunyoro, Busoga, and Tooro monarchies were established by the Ugandan government. But was reinstated in 1993.
Culturally, the Batooro people have a strong culture, though similar in stratification to Bunyoro, both have got a strong cultural naming system, the “PET NAMES,” famously known as Empaako. If we talk about the Empaako naming system here, children are given one of the twelve names used across the communities in addition to their given and family names; each one is addressed by his or her Empaako, which is a positive affirmation of cultural ties.
In addition to this, it can be used as a form of greeting, respect, honour or love to both young and old. The idea of using Empaako can defuse tension and send a strong message about social identity and unity, peace and reconciliation. More than that, there are about 70 clans listed within the Tooro Kingdom that were recognized in the 1999 constitution but only about 20 clans are active with the Tooro Kingdom experience.
Some of the clan names are Abalisa, Ababiito, Abagweri, Ababbopi, and Abasumbi, among others. And these Batooro people are proud of their kingdom, and everyone has got a petty name called “Empaako,” of which the young female children are called “Abwooli,” whereas the young male children whose Empaako is not clearly known are called “Apuuli.” Other Empaako names include Amooti, Abooki, Akiiki, Ateenyi, Adyeeri, Atwooki, Araali, Acaali, Okaali, Abwooli, and Bbala, among others. The Empaako names have got their great meaning behind them.
Social and economic made up of the Batooro people
Traditionally, the Batooro people have been distinguished by economic activities but not caste as we know it, and there are two classes named among the Batooro: the Bairu and Bahuma categories of people. The Bairu sound to be the land cultivators, whereas the Bahuma are believed to be cattle keepers.
The two kinds of people have been significant in the production of milk, meat, butter, ghee, millet, bananas, sweet potatoes, sorghum, vegetation, peas, and many more.
Moreover, Batooro are very social people and loving, led by their unifying leader, Omukama Oyo Kabamba Igulu, who is, in terms of their cultural leader, under the constitution. They are also nice people who are submissive to their economic activities, such as blacksmithing, and the items they produce are hoes, axes, arrowheads, spears, knives, and many more.
Relationship between Libyans and the Tooro Kingdom
During those decades, the Libyan president Muammar Gaddafi was recognized for a great relationship with the royal family of the Tooro Kingdom. Then in 2001, current leader “King” Omukama decided to choose him as one of his special advisors. In that same year, Gaddafi attended King Oyo’s sixth Anniversary celebration and this is when he was approved as the defender of Tooro Kingdom.
When it comes to their strong relationship they had, Gaddafi had to contribute to the funding of the renovation of the palace, a fee which was $200,000.
According to the social setup, marriage was very significant to the Batooro, and a man was not to be regarded as complete until he got married.
Traditionally, the Batooro marriage was organized by the girl’s and boy’s parents who were going to get married; it also had to involve a middleman who made research on the girl’s family and behavior before he was approved to get married to the boy.
Tourist Attractions around Tooro Kingdom:
The Tooro Kingdom itself acts as an attraction, plus other emotional tourist destinations you can combine with your visit to the kingdom, such as the Kibale Forest National Park, renowned as the capital of primates, mainly for chimpanzee tracking, birding, primate viewing, and other small primates like colobus monkeys; the majestic snow-capped mountain of the moon—the Rwenzori Mountains, just a few driving kilometers away from the palace/kingdom; the Amabeere caves, known as the breasts of Nyinamwiru; and the Karambi Royal Tombs, where the kings of Tooro and the royal family members are buried. On your visit to the Tooro Kingdom, you will never go missing! Book Now! Visit western Uganda now.
