The people native to the kingdom are the Batooro, and their language is likewise called Rutooro.[1][3] The Batooro and Banyoro speak closely related languages, Rutooro and Runyoro, and share many other similar cultural traits.[3] The Batooro live on Uganda's western border, south of Lake Albert.[1]
History
The Tooro Kingdom evolved out of a breakaway segment of Bunyoro sometime before the nineteenth century.[4] It was founded in 1830 when OmukamaKaboyo Olimi I, the eldest son of Omukama of BunyoroNyamutukura Kyebambe III of Bunyoro, seceded and established his own independent kingdom.[3][1] Absorbed into Bunyoro-Kitara in 1876, it reasserted its independence in 1891.
As with Buganda, Bunyoro, and Busoga, Tooro's monarchy was abolished in 1967 by the Government of Uganda, but was reinstated in 1993.[1]
The Austrian painter Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928–2000) spent some time there in the 1960s where he painted a number of works and named them after the kingdom.[5][6]
The Batooro people have a strong culture but similar in stratification to Banyoro.[2] They have got a strong cultural naming system (PET NAME) known as Empaako.[7][8] With the Empaako naming system, children are given one of twelve names shared across the communities in addition to their given and family names.[8][9] Addressing someone by his or her Empaako is a positive affirmation of cultural ties. It can be used as a form of greeting or a declaration of affection, respect, honour or love.[8][7] Use of Empaako can defuse tension or anger and sends a strong message about social identity and unity, peace and reconciliation.[8][10] The Empaako names are: Amooti, Abbooki, Akiiki, Ateenyi, Adyeri, Atwoki, Abwoli, Araali, Acaali, Bbala, and Okaali.[8][10][9]
Abakama baTooro (Kings of Tooro)
The following is a list of the Abakama of Tooro since 1800:
^ abcTuryahikayo, B. (1976). "Review of A Dynastic History "The Kingdom of Toro in Uganda"". Transafrican Journal of History. 5 (2): 194–200. ISSN0251-0391. JSTOR24520247.