Toro people


The Toro people, Tooro people or Batooro are a Bantu ethnic group, native to Tooro Kingdom, a subnational constitutional monarchy within Uganda. Their language is called Rutooro. It closely resembles Runyoro, spoken in the neighboring kingdom of Bunyoro. A combined language is called Runyoro/Rutooro.

Population

the following administrative districts constitute the Tooro Kingdom: Kabarole District Kamwenge District Kyegegwa District and Kyenjojo District. Those four districts had a combined total population of about 1 million people, according to the 2002 national population census.

Prominent people

The following individuals are some of the prominent Batooro:
  1. Elizabeth Bagaya - She is a lawyer, politician, diplomat, model and actress. She was the first female East African to be admitted to the English Bar. She is a paternal aunt of the current King of Toro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
  2. Edward Bitanywaine Rugumayo - He is a politician, diplomat, author, academic and environmentalist. Current University Chancellor of Kampala University and of Mountains of the Moon University
  3. Brigadier Nobel Mayombo - He was military officer in the UPDF and a Member of Parliament.
  4. Andrew Mwenda - Journalist and entrepreneur. Founder and owner of The Independent, a current affairs newsmagazine.
  5. Brigadier Kayanja Muhanga - He is an army officer. He currently serves as the Commander of the UPDF Contingent in South Sudan. He was appointed to that position in January 2014 by General Yoweri Museveni, the Commander in Chief of the UPDF and the President of Uganda.
  6. Professor John Ntambirweki - A lawyer, academic and academic administrator. He is the current Vice Chancellor of Uganda Pentecostal University, a private university, located in Fort Portal, Western Uganda.
  7. Brigadier Kamanyire Austine - He is an army officer, the Comptroller of Finance of the UPDF