President Yoweri Museveni has directed that the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the King of Tooro, be accorded an official burial and that national flags fly at half-mast for three days in honour of the deceased monarch.
Museveni announced in a condolence message posted on his X handle on Saturday following the death of King Oyo at the age of 34.
The President also revealed that the late King left behind a young son who will be introduced to the public as his heir at an appropriate time.
Museveni said the information was conveyed to him by the King’s mother, Her Royal Highness Best Kemigisa, the Nyinomukama of Tooro, who had earlier informed him that Oyo was battling an aggressive form of cancer.
According to Museveni, the government supported the Royal Family to seek treatment for the King first in Germany and later in the United States, where he died.
“Fortunately, in a telephone call, Her Royal Highness Kemigisa told me that H.H. Oyo left a young boy heir that will be introduced to the public at the right time,” Museveni said.
Museveni described Oyo’s death at the age of 34 as a major loss to Tooro and Uganda, saying the young King had demonstrated potential to work with the Central and Local Governments in the development of Tooro.
He said Oyo had also worked well with the Central Government and avoided what he described as the misuse of restored cultural institutions to promote sectarianism.
“H.H. Oyo worked well with the Central Government, thereby avoiding the mistake of trying to use the Cultural Institutions that were restored by the NRM to promote sectarianism,” Museveni said. The President called on other cultural leaders to recognise the importance of maintaining the same approach.
Museveni extended condolences on behalf of himself, First Lady Janet Museveni and the people of Uganda to the Royal Family of Tooro and the wider population. He described Oyo as a prominent “Muzzukulu” and mourned his death at such a young age, noting that the King had lost his father at an early age and had himself died young.
“How unfair life can be! He was orphaned while still young, and he has died young,” Museveni said.
The President directed that the late King be given an official burial.
He further ordered that the national flags be flown at half-mast for three days — the day before the burial, the burial day, and the day after,“ May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Museveni said.
