Tooro princess Ruth Komuntale and her American fiancé Christopher Thomas display their certificates following their traditional marriage ceremony in Fort Portal on Thursday. The couple will tie the knot at St. John’s Cathedral, Fort Portal with thousands of guests in attendance.
Thousands of international and local guests have arrived in Tooro Kingdom, which sits on the lush green hills in Fort Portal Town, to attend the wedding of Tooro’s Princess Ruth Komuntale and American, Christopher Thomas, today at St. John’s Cathedral.
Among the guests are several traditional leaders from across the continent, many of them members of the African Kings Forum, founded by former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
“We have invited all African kings under their umbrella, the African Kings Forum, already a delegation from Kenya is in Uganda,” said Mr Richard Rwabuhinga, the chairman of Komuntale wedding organising committee.
His Majesty Tchikaya Andrew of Lwengo Kingdom in Congo Brazaville, his Majesty Tossoh Bagidi of Savalou Kingdom from Benin, and his Majesty Monongo Mwenda and his Queen Ceciles of Bayeke Musiri Kingdom and their counterparts, arrive at the Tooro King’s Palace at Buziga on Friday afternoon ahead of the royal wedding.
Eight delegates from Swaziland, seven from Kenya, delegates from Ghana, Ethiopia, and Rwanda arrived on Thursday evening for the function. Also already in Fort Portal Town are traditional leaders from Congo Brazavile, Benin, South Africa and DR Congo Katanga region.
However, not sure to attend are members of Gaddafi family who have been close friends to the royal family or officials from the Libyan government.
Tooro Kingdom had strong ties with the Libyan government under former leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi but the Kingdom Information Minister Namara Arthur Araali said it has been difficult to invite members of the Gaddafi regime or his family to attend Komuntale’s wedding due to various reasons.
President Museveni to attend.
President Museveni.
President Museveni is among the more than 2,000 guests invited to attend this occasion. The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Luke Orombi will wed the couple, and will be assisted by Bishop Reuben Kisembo of the Ruwenzori Diocese.
The holy matrimony will take at St. John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal from 10am to 1pm which, is in a walkable distance overlooking the King’s palace.
The church function will be followed by a grand reception (Kwinura) at the Karuzika palace where all guests and the people of Tooro (Emyenda ya Tooro) will be hosted by King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Rukidi IV.
King Oyo, 20, is the brother of Princess Komuntale, 23, but now acts as the father of Komuntale because he is the heir to their father, the late King Olimi Kaboyo, who died in 1994. Oyo was crowned in 1995 at the age of three then.
