Tooro Kingdom Formally Informs President Museveni of King Oyo's Passing

Tooro Kingdom has conveyed the somber news of the passing of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV to President Yoweri Museveni. The formal notification, communicated in a letter written in Rutooro, expressed deep sorrow and acknowledged President Museveni’s long-standing relationship with the late monarch, referring to him as a “guardian, father and friend.”

This official communication underscores the significant bond between President Museveni and the Tooro institution. Museveni was among the key figures appointed as guardians for the young King Oyo when he ascended to the throne at the tender age of three in 1995, following the death of his father. Other appointed guardians included Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, Princess Elizabeth Bagaaya, and Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II of Buganda.

Although the formal regency concluded as King Oyo matured, President Museveni maintained a close relationship with him and continued to engage with the kingdom on various matters crucial to Tooro’s development, including tourism, infrastructure, and the return of kingdom properties. The President was present at several important milestones in the young king’s life and reign.

Omukama Oyo passed away on August 27, 2026, at the age of 34 while undergoing medical treatment in the United States. His death has been described as an “immeasurable” loss by Tooro Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki. The kingdom has urged the people of Tooro to remain united, calm, and prayerful during this period of mourning, assuring them that the institution of the Omukama will endure. King Oyo, born on April 16, 1992, was recognized as one of the world’s youngest reigning monarchs.

Source: The Observer (Uganda)