(Fort Portal) – King Oyo Kabamba Iguru of Toro celebrated his 29th coronation anniversary on Thursday, September 12, with traditional rituals conducted at Karuzika Hill in Fort Portal city. Known as Empango, the anniversary marks the day when King Oyo ascended the throne at just three years old. The annual celebration is a deeply rooted tradition for the Toro Kingdom, held with great reverence each year on September 12.
The Basiita clan, a key part of the kingdom’s cultural heritage, leads the traditional rituals during the Empango celebration. Though the Babiito clan is the ruling royal family of Toro, the Basiita clan holds the unique responsibility of conducting the Empango rituals. On Wednesday, September 11, the head of the Basiita clan, Engineer David Baguma, presented the royal drums to the youthful monarch, flanked by his fellow clansmen.
During the ceremony, King Oyo struck each drum nine times, a symbolic gesture deeply intertwined with the kingdom’s traditions. One of the most notable moments of the event was when six year old Desmond Baguma, also a member of the Basiita clan, presented one of the royal drums to the king. Desmond later led his clansmen to the Toro Kingdom’s sacred anthill, known as Akaswa ka Toro, where they announced the celebration of this year’s Empango.
As they gathered around the anthill, the Basiita clan members chanted songs in praise of the king, expressing their unwavering allegiance to him and to the kingdom. These chants also honored past kings, queen mothers, and other key figures in the Toro Kingdom’s history. The celebrants performed the Amakondere, the royal dance of Toro, around the anthill, dressed in traditional kanzu tunics.
| Empango Ceremony Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Lead Clan in Rituals | Basiita clan |
| Key Ritual | King Oyo sounds royal drums nine times |
| Significance of Drums | Part of the royal regalia |
| Unique Presentation | Six-year-old Desmond Baguma presents drum |
| Royal Dance Performed | Amakondere dance |
| Sacred Anthill | Akaswa ka Toro |
The royal regalia, which includes drums, spears, and shields, were all presented to King Oyo for his blessing during the ceremony. The king touched each of the instruments of power as a sign of the kingdom’s ongoing stability and peace. According to Mwesige Zebidayo, the monarchy’s minister in charge of culture and clan mobilization, the annual presentation of the regalia helps the king confirm that all instruments of power are intact.
Before being presented to the king, the regalia is traditionally cleansed, an essential part of the rituals leading up to the Empango celebration. This cleansing process symbolizes the kingdom’s purity and preparation for another year under the king’s reign.
One of the standout elements of the Empango celebration is the Amakondere, a royal dance performed to traditional trumpets and drums. The Amakondere is known for its elegance and slower rhythm, with participants dancing gracefully as they celebrate the king’s reign. The dance is performed by the king’s subjects, who move in slow, deliberate jumps, shouting joyfully in celebration.
On the eve of the main Empango celebration, no formal speeches were made. King Oyo waved to his subjects before retreating to his palace, a gesture that emphasizes the solemnity and simplicity of the occasion. A kingdom source said for the people of Toro, the Empango is not just a celebration of their king, but a reaffirmation of the kingdom’s traditions and cultural identity.
