Empango (Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom)
Banyoro (Nyoro) of Bunyoro-Kitara, with the Batooro of Tooro as a parallel
Source: Ngumenawe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons About Empango (Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom)
Empango is the coronation anniversary festival of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom in western Uganda. It celebrates the day the reigning Omukama (king) ascended to the throne. The current king, Solomon Gafabusa Iguru I, was enthroned on June 11, 1994, which is why Bunyoro holds the Empango celebration on June 11 each year at the Karuziika Palace in Hoima. The term "empango" also refers to the royal drum that the king sounds once a year during the festival.
The kingdom traces its rulers through three dynasties: the legendary Batembuzi, the Bachwezi, and the Luo-origin Babiito, who founded Bunyoro-Kitara. King Iguru is counted as the 27th Omukama of the Babiito line. Uganda's kingdoms were abolished in 1967 under Milton Obote but were restored in 1993, which is why King Iguru first performed the Empango rite in 1994.
The neighbouring Tooro Kingdom, which separated from Bunyoro around 1830 under Prince Kaboyo (Olimi I), holds its own Empango festival on September 12 at the Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal. This date marks the 1995 coronation of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who ascended the throne at the age of three. King Oyo passed away on August 27, 2026, leaving the Tooro throne vacant.
Empango is more than just a single day of celebration. Pre-festival events include an Empango run, a business and cultural expo, a Runyoro language competition, and various sports activities. The main ceremony focuses on regalia and drums presented to the king by the Abasiita clan, the royal drum sounding nine times, court music, feasting, and traditional dance.
Origins & significance
The kingdom honours the legacy of Omukama Cwa II Kabalega, who was wounded and captured by British-led forces on April 9, 1899. He was exiled first to Kismayu and then to the Seychelles in 1901, where he lived until he died in 1923. He is buried at the Mparo Royal Tombs near Hoima.
Certain clans have hereditary roles within the kingdom. The Abasiita clan serves as the custodians of the royal drums and leads the drum rituals. The number nine is significant; for instance, the king strikes the main drum nine times. The Royal Order of the Engabu, a kingdom honour re-established in 2010, is conferred during the Empango festival. Since 2019, the Omukama has not personally presided over the festival due to health issues, leading the kingdom to scale back the rituals.
Plan your visit
The public portions are generally open and free, and thousands of subjects and guests travel to the Karuziika Palace in Hoima on 11 June. Expect crowds, security checks and long queues to enter. Pre-festival events such as the Empango run and the expo are held around Hoima in the preceding days.
Whose festival it is
The culture
The Omukama and Omugo (queen) change into barkcloth, made from the inner bark of the Ficus natalensis tree, for the enthronement rite.
Men wear the kanzu, a long white robe.
Women, especially in Tooro, wear the suuka, a three-piece draped outfit; the western-Uganda wrap dress is also called mushanana.
Court music features the Amakondere, a group of horn-shaped wooden trumpets, with each player producing a single note. Drums include the large Tibamulinde, Nyalebe, and long drums like Mutengesa, along with Entimbo and engoma. The royal song Irambi is performed during the drum procession.
The signature dance is Runyege-Ntogoro, a courtship dance of the Banyoro and Batooro. Male dancers tie ebinyege pod rattles to their legs for rhythm, and dancing to the Amakondere trumpets is called Okuguruka Amakondere.
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