Princess Elizabeth of Toro
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Princess Elizabeth Nyabongo Bagaaya of Toro is the Batebe of Toro and an Ugandan politician, diplomat, lawyer, and model, 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.
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[edit] Early life & education
Princess Elizabeth was born to King George Rukiidi III and Queen Kezia, daughter of the King of Buganda, in 1940. 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. Elizabeth received the title and office of Batebe, traditionally was the most powerful woman in Toro, and the most trusted advisor of the King. Her uncle 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 England 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. Unfortunnatly, Milton Obote won and continued killing his enemies. Elizabeth and her lover Wilbur Nyabongo 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 Wilbur was killed in a plane crash. Today Elizabeth is involved in charity and is an official guardian of her brother's son, the current king of Toro.
[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.
