Entebbe Mayor Rulinda Mourns King Oyo in Emotional Tribute

Entebbe Municipality Mayor, Fabrice B. Rulinda, has conveyed his deep sadness and emotional tribute following the recent passing of the King of Tooro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. Rulinda described the monarch’s death as a “personal and national tragedy,” admitting his struggle to accept the loss.

In a heartfelt condolence message, Mayor Rulinda reflected on the unique pressures faced by King Oyo from a very young age. “While the rest of us were allowed to grow quietly, to make mistakes away from the public eye… your path had already been shaped by history. Every step you took carried the expectations of generations,” he wrote, acknowledging the immense burden the young king carried.

Rulinda praised King Oyo’s remarkable qualities, noting his ability to remain humble and approachable despite his royal status. “You were royal without being distant, dignified without arrogance and powerful without ever losing your humility,” the Mayor stated.

The tribute also touched upon the King’s strong Christian faith, which Rulinda believes profoundly influenced his leadership and perspective. “You believed that human beings could make plans… but that ultimately, only God could shape the future,” Rulinda recalled.

The Tooro Kingdom had confirmed the King’s death, with Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomire Akiiki calling it an “immeasurable loss.” King Oyo ascended the throne in 1995 at the age of three, becoming the world’s youngest reigning monarch at the time and holding one of the longest tenures among Uganda’s traditional monarchs.

Rulinda concluded his message by extending condolences to the Queen Mother, the Royal Family, and the people of Tooro, emphasizing that the loss was deeply felt across personal and national levels. “Tooro has lost its beloved Omukama. Uganda has lost a treasured cultural leader. And I have lost a dear friend and brother,” he wrote.

Source: Nile Post