Toro Kingdom was part of the large
empire of Kitara, under the reign of the Babiito dynasty, which dates back
to the 16th century. Our oral History has it that Prince Olimi Kaboyo Kasunsunkwanzi,
son of the king of Bunyoro Kingdom, annexed the southern province of his
father's kingdom and declared himself king of this land, known as Toro.
He was warmly received and accepted by the batooro, who accepted him as
Rukirabasaija Omukama Kaboyo Olimi I. The new kingdom survived the early,
tumultuous years of its infancy, and grew to enjoy well over a century
of goodwill, peace and prosperity.
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King George Rukidi III and his beautiful queen,
Lady
Kezia Rukidi. They are the grandparents of King Oyo.
Like his father before him, King George Rukidi
encouraged and supported the education of Toro's youth.
During his reign, batooro students in Advanced
Level Secondary School had their tuition paid in full by the Toro government.
Hundreds of batooro boys and girls attending
Ordinary Level Secondary School were awarded full or partial bursaries
by the Omukama's government.
It was one afternoon, in 1965, when
"the sky came tumbling down" on the batooro! His Royal Highness King George
Rukidi III left his people to join his ancestors. Sir George, as he was
referred to by his millions of friends all over the world, had been one
of Toro's most beloved kings and would be sorely missed. He earned his
place in History as the king who educated the batooro and brought Toro
into the modern, post colonial era.
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The throne of Toro was passed on to Prince Patrick Kaboyo; thus starting a new cultural leadership under a younger generation of batooro.