Parliament condoles with Tooro Kingdom
CAPTION: Tooro Kingdom King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV(File photo).
By Our reporter
KAMPALA – Parliament has condoled with Tooro Kingdom following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV with the Speaker, Jacob Marksons Oboth describing the king’s demise as ‘deeply painful’.
Oboth eulogised the Omukama in his communication to the House on on Tuesday, 01 September 2026.
“In this moment of sorrow, let Parliament stand with the people of Tooro to share in their grief as they mourn a king whose life touched generations,” Oboth said.
He added, ‘when a king departs, it is not only a family that mourns, a kingdom mourns, a people mourn and the nation feels the loss’.
He said that a motion will be moved to pay tribute to King Oyo and honour his contribution to Tooro and Uganda.
“Today a throne stands in mourning, a kingdom grieves its king and the nation bids farewell to one of its remarkable sons,” Oboth added.
The Speaker said that whereas Oyo died at a young age, he lived an impactful life.
“A king who came to the throne as a child has now departed. He departed far too soon. His life reminds us that the measure of a life is not only its length but the legacy it leaves behind,” Oboth said.
He praised the late king for promoting culture, even at a young age.
“His Majesty’s story was truly remarkable; he ascended the throne at only three years and for more than three decades grew before the eyes of his people into a respected and admired traditional leader,” Oboth said.
He further recognised the late king’s contribution towards promotion of tourism and environmental conservation.
“Most notably he climbed the Margherita peak to promote the Rwenzori and raise awareness about climate change,” said Oboth.
He added that King Oyo will be remembered for promoting youth empowerment.
“He supported opportunities for young people and used his international engagements to promote Tooro, his people and Uganda to the world,” Oboth remarked.
The Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without portfolio, Hon. Rukia Nakadama also condoled with the Tooro kingdom.
“I condole with Tooro and the royal family for losing such a brilliant young king, and I know we are going to get time and talk about him but it is sad that we have lost him at such a young age,” said Nakadama.
The Members of Parliament observed a moment of silence in honour of the departed Omukama of the Toro Kingdom.
The body of King Oyo is expected to arrive in Uganda on Thursday, 03 September 2026 and it will be transported to the Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal District upon which a nine-day mourning period will commence.
Tooro elders’ meeting halted by security
CAPTION: The doors to the Rukurato were locked and manned by UPDF officers.
By Our reporter
FORT PORTAL| – Personnel from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UDPF) and the Police have been deployed at the Tooro Kingdom administrative offices at Muchwa in Fort Portal City. The Muchwa also houses the kingdom’s parliamentary chambers (Orukurato Orukuru Orwensanju).
The deployment followed an announcement by Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki postponing the Supreme Council sitting that had been scheduled for Tuesday morning. Rwomiire said the meeting had been postponed until further notice.
He explained that he was in Kampala engaging government officials and other relevant authorities to coordinate arrangements for the return and interment of the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
However, despite the Prime Minister’s announcement, some members of the Supreme Council started gathering at Muchwa, intending to proceed with the sitting.
The members were led by the head of the ruling Babiito clan, Omusuga Prince Charles Kamurasi.
The Tooro kingdom administrative offices
Moses Musinguzi the Babiito clan spokesperson told URN that the Prime Minister had no powers or authority to stop the Rukurato from sitting.
The members were however blocked from accessing the Rukurato chambers after security officers closed the doors.
The members later held negotiations with the security personnel in an attempt to gain access to the chambers, but the negotiations yielded no breakthrough.
They eventually left the premises without holding the sitting.
According to the traditions of Tooro when a king dies, the Rukurato sits and the burial program and arrangements are presented to it.
It’s after this sitting that even the heir to the throne is also announced.
The standoff comes amid a deepening succession dispute following the death of King Oyo, with the Babiito royal clan having formed a 21-member committee to handle the process of selecting a new King.
Rwomiire has said the late King left an heir, while Omusuga Kamurasi said the royal clan is not aware of the reported son.
President Yoweri Museveni also said during his eulogy for King Oyo that Queen Mother Best Kemigisa had informed him by telephone that the late King had left a son.
The King’s body is expected to arrive in Uganda on Thursday as preparations for his burial continue.
