TOORO CRISIS DEEPENS: King Oyo’s body arrives on Friday as African kings, President Museveni and thousands of mourners prepare for burial

The body of the late King of Tooro, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, will arrive in Uganda on Friday, September 4, 2026, through Entebbe International Airport, in a change from the earlier communication that the body would arrive on Thursday.

The arrival will mark the beginning of a series of solemn ceremonies leading to the burial of the 34-year-old monarch, whose death has plunged Tooro Kingdom and the country into mourning.

The body is expected to be received at Entebbe by President Yoweri Museveni, before being transported to Tooro for a series of traditional and official farewell rites.

Members of the public are expected to line the route to Fort Portal, with mourners particularly expected to gather along the Fort Portal Road from Kyegegwa if the programme remains unchanged.

The development has heightened preparations in Tooro, where the death of King Oyo has brought together cultural leaders, government officials, royal subjects and thousands of mourners preparing to pay their last respects to the monarch.

“Farewell thee my king,” mourners have said as preparations intensify for the return of the King’s remains.

King Oyo died last week in the United States, where he had been receiving medical treatment. His death brought to an end his reign, which began when he was only three years old following the death of his father, King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, in 1995.

He was formally crowned in 1995 and became one of the world’s youngest reigning monarchs.

African Kings Expected

The burial is expected to attract a major gathering of traditional leaders from across Africa, underlining King Oyo’s standing among the continent’s royal institutions.

Kings from Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Eswatini are expected to travel to Tooro for the funeral.

At least four Nigerian monarchs have reportedly confirmed their attendance, including the Olu of Warri, whom King Oyo visited during his 2024 trip to Nigeria.

The visit to Nigeria was part of the King’s engagements with traditional institutions on the continent and helped strengthen relations between Tooro and other African kingdoms.

King Oyo’s funeral is therefore expected to become not only a national event but also a major gathering of African royalty.

Among the high-profile royals expected is King Mswati III of Eswatini, alongside other traditional rulers from the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries.

Their attendance is expected to add an international dimension to the funeral and reinforce the role of traditional institutions in Africa’s cultural and social affairs.

Media organisations from different parts of the world are also expected in Tooro to cover the funeral and document the final rites of the young monarch.

The arrival of international media teams is likely to place Fort Portal and Tooro Kingdom at the centre of global attention as the kingdom bids farewell to a monarch who attracted international interest from childhood.

Busoga Changes Programme

The mourning for King Oyo has also affected the calendar of another major cultural institution.

Busoga Kingdom has postponed the 12th Coronation Anniversary celebrations of Isebantu Kyabazinga William Wilberforce Kadhumbula Gabula Nadiope IV from September 13 to Saturday, September 19, 2026.

The celebrations will now be held at Mayuge District Headquarters Grounds.

The decision was taken to allow Ugandans to participate in the burial of King Oyo, whose funeral programme coincides with the original date for the Busoga anniversary celebrations.

In a statement, Busoga Kingdom Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muvawala said the postponement was intended to honour the late Tooro monarch and give the public an opportunity to attend his burial.

“I wish to inform all the subjects of His Majesty Isebantu Kyabazinga and the general public that the 12th Coronation Anniversary celebrations, originally scheduled for 13th September 2026, have been postponed to Saturday, 19th September 2026, at the Mayuge District Headquarters Grounds,” Muvawala said.

He said the decision was made to enable Ugandans to attend the burial of the fallen Tooro monarch.

“This decision has been made to honour and enable all Ugandans to attend the burial of the fallen monarch of Tooro, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, which will coincide with the 12th Coronation Anniversary celebrations of the Isebantu Kyabazinga of Busoga,” he said.

However, Busoga will proceed with the Gabula Day celebrations scheduled for September 9 in Buyende.

The event will also provide an opportunity for the people of Busoga to remember and eulogise King Oyo.

Tooro Prepares For Farewell

In Tooro, preparations are continuing for the return of the King’s body and subsequent ceremonies.

The change in arrival date from Thursday to Friday has required adjustments to arrangements along the route and at venues where the body is expected to pass.

Residents of Kyegegwa and other communities along the Fort Portal route are expected to turn out in large numbers to witness the procession and pay tribute to the King.

For many of his subjects, the journey of the King’s remains from Entebbe to Fort Portal will be an emotional moment, offering an opportunity for ordinary Ugandans to participate in the national mourning.

The King’s death has also triggered a renewed focus on the future of Tooro Kingdom, particularly the succession process and the constitutional and traditional arrangements that will guide the kingdom after his passing.

However, attention in the immediate term remains firmly on giving King Oyo a dignified farewell.

The late monarch had, over the years, grown from a child king into a prominent cultural leader who represented Tooro at national and international events.

His reign was characterised by efforts to promote education, tourism, cultural preservation and development within the kingdom.

Despite ascending the throne at an exceptionally young age, King Oyo eventually assumed a more visible role in public life as he grew older and took on greater responsibilities as Omukama.

His death at 34 has therefore been met with shock, particularly among the people of Tooro who had known him as their King for virtually his entire life.

National Mourning

The funeral arrangements are expected to bring together government leaders, members of the royal family, cultural leaders, religious leaders, diplomats and ordinary Ugandans.

President Museveni’s expected reception of the body at Entebbe is likely to underline the national significance attached to the death of the monarch.

The participation of other cultural institutions, including Busoga, has also demonstrated the solidarity among Uganda’s traditional kingdoms during the period of mourning.

With African kings expected to travel to Fort Portal and international media preparing to cover the ceremonies, Tooro is set for one of the largest royal gatherings in recent years.

For the people of Tooro, however, the occasion will be less about ceremony and more about saying goodbye to a King whose reign began in childhood and ended prematurely.

As the body makes its final journey home on Friday, thousands of mourners are expected to line the road, carrying flowers, banners and messages of condolence.

The cry across Tooro will be simple: Farewell, Omukama Oyo.

Author Profile

Stephen Kasozi Muwambi: Mr. Stephen Kasozi Muwambi is a seasoned crime investigative writer, majoring in judicial-based stories. His two decades’ experience as a senior investigative journalist has made him one of the best to reckon on in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected]