President Museveni has directed that the late king of Tooro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, be accorded an official burial and that the national flags fly at half-mast for three days.
Oyo, who was 34, died after battling cancer, according to Museveni. He died in the United States, where he had been receiving treatment after earlier receiving medical care in Germany.
In a condolence message, Museveni expressed sadness at the loss and described Oyo as a prominent member of Uganda’s younger generation.
“How unfair life can be!! He was orphaned while still young, and he has died young,” Museveni said.
Museveni extended his condolences to the Tooro Royal Family and Ugandans, particularly the people of Tooro.
The president said Oyo had shown considerable potential during his reign and had worked well with the central and local governments in efforts to develop Tooro.
“In the short life on earth, he had shown that he had the potential to work well with the Central and Local Governments to develop Tooro. What a loss to Tooro and Uganda,” Museveni said.
Oyo became king of Tooro in 1995 at the age of three following the death of his father, Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III. He was officially crowned in 1995 and became one of the world’s youngest monarchs.
Museveni said Oyo’s mother, Best Kemigisa, had informed him several months ago that the king was suffering from an aggressive form of cancer.
He said the government supported the royal family in seeking treatment for Oyo in Germany and later in the United States, where he died.
The president also said Kemigisa had informed him that Oyo had left behind a young son who is expected to become his heir.
“Fortunately, in a telephone call, Her Royal Highness Kemigisa told me that H.H. Oyo left a young boy heir who will be introduced to the public at the right time,” Museveni said.
Museveni praised Oyo for maintaining a working relationship with the central government and said he had avoided using cultural institutions to promote sectarianism.
He urged other cultural leaders to follow what he described as Oyo’s example of working with government while preserving the role of cultural institutions.
“H.H. Oyo worked well with the central government, thereby avoiding the mistake of trying to use the Cultural Institutions that the NRM restored to promote sectarianism. It would be good if all the Cultural leaders understood the importance of this,” Museveni said.
He directed that Oyo be accorded an official burial as a mark of respect for the late king.
“May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Museveni said.
