Visit Toro Kingdom and King Oyo – The Kingdom of Toro – current omukama king oyo
Visit Toro Kingdom – Tooro Kingdom is one of the five Traditional Kingdoms in Uganda. The King of Tooro Kingdom is referred to as Omukama and apparently the Tooro King is called Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. The people of the Tooro Kingdom are referred to as the Batooro and the language spoken is called Rutooro.
Historically the Tooro Kingdom was founded by the late Omukama Kaboyo Olimi I who was the oldest son of the Omukama of Bunyoro Nyamutukura Kyebambe III of Bunyoro Kingdom. He succeeded his father and established an independent Kingdom of his own which he placed on the River Muziizi. This was absorbed with in the Bunyoro Kitara in the year 1876. Just like any other Kingdoms of Busoga, Buganda, Bunyoro and like, Tooro’s Kingdom was abolished in 1967 during the former Ugandan president the late Milton Oboto’s Regime and it was restored in 1993 by the current president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
There are about 70 clans with in the Tooro Kingdom recognized according to the 1999 constitution but only about 20 clans are active with the Tooro Kingdom activities. These clans include: Abalisa, Abibiito, Abagweri, Ababbopi, Abasumbi among others. The Batooro people are proud of their Kingdom and everyone has got a petty name called Empaako, the young female children are called Abwooli whilst the young male children whose Empaako is Apuuli. Other Empaako names include: Abbooki, Akiiki, Araali, Atwooki, Abbala, Atwooki among others. Every Empaako name has got its secret precious meaning.
Batooro People Social and Economic
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 people are very united people and led by their unifying leader Omukama who is their cultural leader under the constitution. The Batooro people also supplemented their economic activities such as black smith and they produced items like hoes, axes, arrowheads, spears, knives among others.
Libyan Relationship with the Kingdom
Visit tooro kingdom -The former Libyan president the late Maumar Gaddafi is recognized for his great relationship with the Royal Family of Tooro Kingdom. The 2001, the Current Leader King Oyo decided to appoint him as one of his special advisor. In the same year Gaddafi attended King Oyo sixth Anniversary celebration and this is when he was announced as the defender of Toro Kingdom. Due to their relationship, Gaddafi had to participate in the funding of the renovation of the King’s palace.
According to the social set up, marriage was very significant to the Batooro and if a man was not married he regarded incompetent not until he is married. Traditionally the Batooro marriage was organized by the parents of the girl and boy that are going to get married. The traditional marriage involved the middle man who makes research on the girl family and behaviour before he is approved to get married to the boy.
Tourist attractions in Toro Kingdom
Kibale Forest National Park a home to Uganda primates famous for the primate safaris especially the Chimpanzee tracking safaris, the snow caped Mountains of the Moon, Mountain Rwenzori, Semiliki National Park for nature walks to the hot springs and the best place for bird watching in Uganda, Amabere Caves known as the breasts of Nyinamwiru, the Tooro Palace home to the King of the Toro Kingdom, Tooro Botanical Garden, Karambi Royal Tombs where several Toro Kings are buried and the royal family members are buried, Lake Albert situated on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in the western region among other attractions.