King Oyo's Remains to Arrive Thursday; President Museveni to Formally Receive Them

The official funeral rites for the late Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV are set to begin, with his remains scheduled to arrive in Uganda on Thursday. President Yoweri Museveni will formally receive the monarch’s body upon its arrival at Entebbe International Airport around 10 am, having travelled from Nairobi.

Following the official reception, the remains will be transported by helicopter to Kyegegwa District. From there, a procession will commence towards Fort Portal, allowing subjects of the Tooro Kingdom along the route to pay their final respects. The body will then be placed in a cart for a slow procession into Fort Portal, culminating at the Karuziika Palace.

This arrival signifies the beginning of an official nine-day mourning period, observed according to Tooro custom. The mourning period will be counted from the day the body reaches Karuziika Palace, rather than the date of the King’s passing. Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) are expected to render military honors, including a gun salute, for the late monarch.

Preparations are underway at Karuziika Palace and the Karambi Royal Tombs, with government support channeled through the UPDF Engineering Brigade. These efforts include road improvements and clearing of the palace grounds. The Kingdom has emphasized that the body must be taken directly to Karuziika Palace, as per Tooro tradition, which designates it as the sole official seat of the monarch, distinct from other royal residences.

King Oyo passed away last Thursday at the age of 34, concluding a 31-year reign that began when he ascended the throne as a child in 1995. His death has brought a wave of mourning across Tooro, with subjects and well-wishers gathering at the palace and designated centres to pay tribute.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/museveni-to-receive-king-oyo-s-body-as-remains-expected-thursday-5577774