Queen Rebecca Amoding Rukidi, the new Queen of Tooro Kingdom, has drawn widespread praise after delivering a fluent address in Rutooro at the Tooro Ladies Open 2026 over the weekend.
Videos of the queen, who is of Iteso heritage, speaking the language of the kingdom she now represents quickly went viral, with many Ugandans commending her for embracing her husband’s culture and language.
In her speech, delivered in Rutooro, the queen thanked guests for their support and expressed her love for the people of Tooro.
“Our guests, how are you? I love you so much. Thank you for everything. Thank you for loving the king. Thank you for loving Tooro. Together with you we are on a journey and we are going somewhere,” she said.
The moment carried particular significance given her Iteso background, which had prompted questions about whether someone from outside Tooro could serve as queen .
Prominent Ugandans and ordinary citizens alike took to social media to celebrate the moment. Veteran diplomat Winnie Byanyima shared the video with an enthusiastic message: “I am so excited! I love the Queen of Tooro! Long live the Omukama” . Another user praised Amoding for “learning the language of her husband’s people”.
Amoding’s journey to the throne began when her husband, Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, was crowned as Omukama Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal on September 29, 2026 . The coronation followed the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who passed away in the United States on August 27 at the age of 34 after receiving treatment for cancer . The succession process had been contested by Oyo’s mother, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, and his sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, who claimed the late king had left a will naming his young son as heir .
Despite the controversy surrounding the succession, Amoding’s embrace of Rutooro and her visible presence at community events like the Tooro Ladies Open have signaled a new chapter for the kingdom. The Babiito royal clan, through spokesman Rev Fr Dr Charles Oyo, affirmed that Amoding’s marriage to the king entitles her to the role, noting that she does not need to join a Tooro clan for her marriage to be recognized .