“On behalf of my people of Kakuuto and the entire parliamentary Muslim community, we send our deepest condolences to the people of Tooro Kingdom for this great loss. We stand with you during this difficult time,” said Kaka Ismail Lubega, the Kakuuto MP.
Legislators from different political backgrounds have mourned the death of Tooro’s King, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, describing him as a hardworking, development-oriented cultural leader who promoted unity while preserving the kingdom’s traditions.
Oyo died on August 27 in the United States. Arrangements were underway to return his remains to Uganda for burial.
Lubega said the death of the young king had come as a shock to many Ugandans, particularly because of his age.
He said Oyo was a loving and hardworking monarch who helped strengthen relations between the Tooro Kingdom and the central government.
Bujumba Island MP Lugolobi Bagayente described the king’s death as a major loss to Tooro Kingdom and Uganda as a whole, saying it had come at a time when many people still had high expectations of his leadership.
“He was a very social and flexible leader. May the Almighty keep his family and his subjects strong during these trying moments,” Lugolobi said.
The MP also called for greater attention to cancer prevention, early detection and treatment in Uganda following the death of the young monarch.
Bukedea MP David Beecham Okwere said Oyo’s death was difficult to comprehend because of the king’s relatively young age and the expectations that surrounded his leadership.
Okwere described Oyo as a result-oriented leader who worked to promote unity and development in Tooro.
“Therefore, losing him at such a young age is so sad and still hard to believe. It is painful for all of us,” Okwere said.
Jinja South Division West MP Dr Timothy Batuwa extended his condolences to the royal family and the people of Tooro.
He also expressed sympathy to the Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Nadiope Gabula, following the loss of a fellow cultural leader and member of the wider royal family.
Batuwa also said advances in medical science, including research involving genetic technologies, offered hope for the treatment of some serious diseases, although access to advanced treatment remains limited by the cost of technology and healthcare.
Oyo became King of Tooro in 1995 following the death of his father, Omukama Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III. He was crowned at a very young age and went on to become one of Uganda’s best-known cultural leaders.
His death has triggered widespread mourning in Tooro and beyond, with political leaders, cultural institutions and members of the public paying tribute to a monarch who spent most of his life serving as the symbolic leader of his people.
