The body of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Tooro Kingdom arrived in Uganda on Friday morning and was received by President Yoweri Museveni at Entebbe International Airport, marking the beginning of a solemn nine-day mourning period that will culminate in his burial on September 12.
The aircraft carrying the remains touched down at 12pm, where President Museveni, the Queen Mother, and senior government officials were present to receive the casket. Uganda Police draped the casket in the national colours and the Tooro Kingdom colours before wheeling it through a guard of honour. President Museveni paid his final respects and laid a wreath before the body was transferred to a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) helicopter for airlifting to Kyegegwa District.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at Humura Primary School playground in Kyegegwa District, waiting to receive the late king’s body. The playground, located a few metres off the Kyegegwa-Kyenjojo-Fort Portal road, has been heavily secured, with deployments of both UPDF and police officers maintaining a visible presence.
For many Batooro in Kyegegwa, the arrival of the King’s body at Humura carries deep cultural and historical significance. Humura Primary School has a special connection to the Tooro royal family. The late King Oyo’s grandfather, Sir George Rukiidi III, and his father, Prince Kaboyo, planted trees at the school. King Oyo also planted a tree at the same school last year, making his final passage through the area particularly emotional for residents.
From Humura, the funeral service vehicles are expected to transport the King’s body through Kyenjojo and Kabarole before arriving at Fort Portal, a journey of more than 100 kilometres. The body will then be taken to Karuziika Palace, where it will lie in state until the burial on September 12.
President Museveni has declared three days of national mourning from September 11 to 13, with the Omukama to be laid to rest on Saturday, September 12. The late king, who ascended the throne at the age of three in 1995 and was 34 years old at the time of his death, was a respected traditional leader and a symbol of unity for the people of Tooro.
His death has drawn tributes from across the country and beyond, with many recalling his dedication to cultural preservation and his role in championing the values of his kingdom. As the nation mourns, the Kingdom of Tooro and the government have called on all Ugandans to observe the mourning period with dignity and respect.
