Princess Elizabeth of Toro
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Princess Elizabeth Christobel Edith Bagaaya Akiiki of Toro, Princess Wilberforce Nyabongo (born 1936)[1] is the Batebe of Toro and an Ugandan politician, diplomat, lawyer, model, and actress, who was Minister for Foreign Affairs under Idi Amin and the first female barrister in Uganda. She is the aunt of the current King of Toro, Rukidi IV.
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[edit] Early life & education
Princess Elizabeth Christobel Edith Bagaaya[2] was born to Lt. Sir George David Matthew Kamurasi, King Rukidi III of Toro, and his wife the former Kezia Byanjeru Abwooli, a daughter of Nikodemo Kakoro (a senior chief of the king), in 1936.[3] Her title from birth was Omubiitokati or princess.
After finishing elementary school, she was sent to boarding school in Buganda, followed by Sherborne School for Girls, in England, where she was the only black student. "I felt that I was on trial and that my failure to excel would reflect badly on the entire black race." she later wrote. After one year, she was accepted to Cambridge, the third African woman in the institiution's history. In 1962 she graduated from Cambridge with a law degree. Three years later Elizabeth became a lawyer.
[edit] Royal life & modeling
Around this time her father died, and her brother Patrick was enthroned as King Olimi III. Elizabeth received the title and office of Batebe (Princess Royal), which, traditionally, made her the most powerful woman in Toro, and the most trusted advisor of the King. King Fredrick Mutesa II of Buganda, another of Uganda's traditional kingdoms, was now the President, with his Prime Minister, Milton Obote. After the coronation of George, Obote declared himself president. Elizabeth was afraid for her uncle's life, but he escaped to London. Elizabeth later completed an internship at a law firm, and became Uganda's first female lawyer. The year after, Obote abolished all the traditional kingdoms. Elizabeth was a virtual prisoner in her own country, until Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom sent her an invitaiton to model in a charity fashion show. The Princess was a smash hit, and soon became highly successful fashion model, being featured in many magazines. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis met Elizabeth at a party, and convinced her to move to New York City. In 1971 Milton Obote was overthrown by General Idi Amin. Elizabeth returned to Uganda. Amin's rule was arguably even more repressive than Obote's, with Amin executing and imprisoning many people. In 1974 Amin appointed Elizabeth Minister of Foreign Affairs.
[edit] Exile & return
In February 1975 Elizabeth escaped to Kenya, then to Vienna, then to London. Four years later, Elizabeth returned to Uganda, to help with Uganda's first free national elections, which were won by Milton Obote, who continued killing his enemies. Elizabeth and her lover, Prince Wilberforce Nyabongo, son of Prince Leo Sharp Ochaki, escaped to London in 1980, and married in 1981. Finally Obote was overthrown and replaced by Yoweri Museveni. In 1986 Elizabeth was appointed ambassador to the U.S., a job she held until 1988. Later that year Nyabongo, an aviation engineer, was killed in a plane crash at age 32.
Following the death of her husband, Elizabeth opted to leave public service and get involved in charity work, in addition to being an official guardian of her brother's son, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru (born 1992), whose regnal name is Rukidi IV.
Today, Princess Elizabeth serves as Uganda's Ambassador to Germany, having accepted her country's call back to public service.also did u know that she was called the Princess of the Mountains of the Moon.
[edit] Bibliography
- Hassen, Joyce. "African Princess". New York: Hyperion, 2004
- Elizabeth of Toro. "Elizabeth of Toro: The Odyssey of an African Princess". Simon and Shuster.
