KAMPALA: President Museveni has mourned the death of Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, describing the 34-year-old monarch’s death as a major loss to Tooro and Uganda and ordering an official burial and three days of national mourning.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Museveni extended condolences to the Tooro royal family and the people of Uganda, describing Oyo as a young cultural leader who had shown potential to work with the Central and local governments to develop Tooro.
“It is with a lot of sadness that, on the behalf of all Ugandans, Maama Janet and myself, I extend our most heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family of Tooro and to all Ugandans on account of the death of the prominent Muzzukulu, His Highness Oyo, the King of Tooro at such a young age of 34. How unfair life can be!! He was orphaned while still young and he has died young,” Museveni said.
The President said Oyo’s death was particularly painful because of the monarch’s young age and the promise he had shown in working with government to develop Tooro.
“In the short life on earth, he had shown that he had potential of working well with the Central and Local Governments to develop Tooro. What a loss to Tooro and Uganda,” Museveni said.
Museveni also disclosed that the government had supported Oyo’s treatment abroad after Queen Mother Best Kemigisa informed him months ago that the King had an aggressive form of cancer.
“Some months back, Her Royal Highness Kemigisa, Nyinomukama, came to tell me that the Muzukulu Oyo had cancer that was very aggressive. The government supported them to go to Germany and, then, the USA where he died,” he said.
The President said he was relieved to learn from the Queen Mother that Oyo had left behind a young son who would continue the royal line.
“Fortunately, in a telephone call, Her Royal Highness Kemigisa, told me that H.H. Oyo left a young boy heir that will be introduced to the public at the right time,” Museveni said.
The statement was not the first announcement of the heir. The Tooro Kingdom had earlier said following Oyo’s death that the King left behind a Prince who would become heir, with his identity to be formally disclosed at an appropriate time in accordance with the Kingdom’s traditions and customs.
Museveni further praised Oyo for what he described as a constructive relationship with the Central Government, saying the King had avoided using the restored cultural institution to promote sectarianism.
“Oyo worked well with the Central Government, thereby avoiding the mistake of trying to use the Cultural Institutions that were restored by the NRM 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 and ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast for three days.
The mourning period will cover the day before the burial, the day of the burial and the day after, according to the presidential directive.
Oyo died on Thursday evening at the age of 34 after receiving treatment abroad.
His cousin, Ron Kazooba Kawamara, said the family had been expecting the King to return home and had even been planning for his wedding rather than preparing for his funeral.
“We were supposed to be planning his wedding, not his funeral. Perhaps that is what makes this so difficult to accept. None of us believed the King would die. Even His Majesty believed he was coming home,” Kawamara said.
Kawamara said that only a week before his death, Oyo was still discussing treatment options with doctors, participating in the family’s daily prayer hour and making plans for the year ahead.
“He was still making plans. Still hopeful. Still living,” Kawamara said.
Oyo became King of Tooro in 1995 at the age of three following the death of his father, King Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III. He was formally crowned in 2010 after attaining the age of 18 and went on to serve as one of Uganda’s most prominent traditional leaders.
He was also involved in youth advocacy, HIV/AIDS awareness, environmental conservation, agriculture and sports during his reign.
Museveni concluded his message by wishing the fallen monarch eternal peace.
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