Museveni calls on Ugandans to intensify fight against cancer as king Oyo is laid to rest
FORT PORTAL, September 14, 2026 — Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the King of Tooro, laid to rest at the Karambi royal burial grounds in southwest of Fort Portal City, bringing to an end 16 days of mourning following his death from cancer in the United States.
King Oyo, who died aged 34 on August 27 while receiving treatment in the United States, was buried on Saturday, following funeral and requiem prayers at St John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal City.
The burial attracted government officials, cultural and religious leaders, members of the royal family, dignitaries and hundreds of mourners from across Uganda and beyond who gathered to pay their final respects to the late monarch.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, represented by Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, described Oyo as a good leader and champion of culture who maintained a constructive relationship with the Central Government.
Museveni said the late King played an important role in preserving Tooro’s culture while mobilising his people for development. The President also called on Ugandans to intensify the fight against cancer and other preventable diseases, urging individuals and communities to take greater responsibility for protecting their health.
Museveni described Oyo as a personal friend who preferred to be regarded as a brother rather than a king, saying the late monarch consistently put the interests of Tooro ahead of personal interests.
He said Oyo’s humility, meekness and commitment to his people would remain part of his legacy. Museveni also urged the people of Tooro to resolve matters concerning succession through peaceful and lawful means and to maintain unity.
He said traditional cultural institutions, restored in Uganda in 1993, have an important role in preserving indigenous languages, customs and cultural heritage, but are not political, administrative or legislative institutions.
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, who led the funeral and requiem service, urged the people of Tooro to remain united and avoid words or actions that could deepen divisions during the period of mourning.
Preaching at St John’s Cathedral, Archbishop Kaziimba said the death of the King should bring the people together rather than create new conflicts.
He cautioned mourners against making statements in anger or pain, warning that words spoken during grief could create lasting divisions and undermine the legacy of the late monarch. Kaziimba further urged the people of Tooro to preserve Oyo’s legacy by continuing causes he championed, including environmental conservation, the fight against HIV/AIDS, tourism promotion, youth empowerment and sports.
He also called on individuals holding historical properties belonging to Tooro Kingdom to return them, saying the late King had consistently advocated for the restoration of the kingdom’s properties.
According to the Archbishop, the properties are part of Tooro’s history and identity and should not become a source of conflict or division.
Queen Mother mourns her son
For Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, the burial marked an emotional farewell to a son whose life she described as deeply rooted in prayer, humility and service. Speaking at the funeral service, Kemigisa recalled how she prayed for God to spare Oyo when his health deteriorated, even asking God to take her life instead.
She described Oyo as a peaceful, merciful and prayerful person who grew from a child she taught to pray into an adult who later became her spiritual guide.
Kemigisa said she introduced her son to prayer when he was young, and they would pray together before going to bed. As he grew older, however, Oyo began guiding her spiritually.
She also thanked the people of Tooro for maintaining peace and standing with the royal family throughout the mourning period. Kemigisa urged the people to preserve the peace that characterised the mourning period, saying this would be one of the greatest ways of honouring Oyo’s memory.
Oyo’s body was repatriated to Uganda on September 4, after which a series of funeral rites were held across Tooro before the final burial at the royal tombs in Karambi.
Princess Ruth Komuntale pays tribute to fallen brother
Princess Ruth Komuntale pays tribute to her late brother, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV; For the princess, late Oyo was more than the king who ascended the Tooro throne as a three-year-old and went on to lead the kingdom for 31 years.
The princess described her brother as curious and eager to learn, saying he was constantly researching subjects he knew little about and that he also loved going to the cinema, occasionally dancing, dining out with family and friends and exercising.
The Princess said her brother had spent more than a year seeking medical attention for persistent pain before he was eventually diagnosed with Angiosarcoma, a rare cancer affecting the inner lining of blood vessels.
According to his sister, the late monarch personally requested that details of his illness remain confidential after learning the severity of his condition, saying he wanted to protect his family and subjects from fear and panic.
Speaking during the funeral service, Komuntale used her brother’s experience and urged members of the public to take their health seriously and undergo regular medical check-ups.
She encouraged people not to wait until they are seriously ill before seeking medical attention, stressing the importance of early detection and regular health monitoring.
Komuntale also expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni for standing with and supporting the royal family during the King’s illness and following his death.
Kabaka Mutebi calls for calm and unity
Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II also urged the people of Tooro to remain calm and united, saying Oyo’s death was a loss not only to Tooro but also to Uganda’s traditional institutions.The Kabaka’s condolence message was read by his brother, Prince David Wasajja, during the burial ceremony.
Mutebi recalled having served as one of Oyo’s guardians and described the late monarch as a leader who grew from a child carrying an extraordinary responsibility into a king who handled his duties with dignity, courage and grace.
He said Oyo’s reign inspired young Ugandans to appreciate culture, heritage and service, while demonstrating the continued role of traditional institutions in promoting identity and unity. The Kabaka’s message came amid emerging differences over the succession to the Tooro throne, with calls for the kingdom to avoid allowing the issue to divide the people.He urged the people of Tooro to honour Oyo’s memory by maintaining peace, stability and unity.
The burial brought to a close the public mourning for a monarch who ascended the Tooro throne as a child and remained the reigning Omukama until his death.
His death has left the Tooro royal family, cultural institutions and his subjects mourning a young King whose reign was associated with culture, youth empowerment, tourism, environmental conservation and efforts to improve the welfare of his people.
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