📸 King Oyo’s body returns home as Museveni calls for calm in Tooro

ENTEBBE - A heavy silence fell over the VVIP grounds of Entebbe International Airport as the remains of the late Omukama of Tooro, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, were brought home.

Although the body was scheduled to arrive at 10:00 am, mourners, including President Yoweri Museveni, had to wait for more than two hours at the airport before the plane landed.

At about 12:05 pm, a privately chartered Kenyan aircraft carrying the king's casket slowly taxied onto the tarmac at the airport's VVIP grounds.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni leD the nation in receiving the remains of His Majesty Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the late King of Tooro, at Entebbe International Airport and laid a wreath on the deceased's casket. (All Photos by Miriam Namutebi)

Waiting to receive him were President Museveni, government officials, members of the royal family, security personnel and journalists.

The 34-year-old monarch died on August 27 in a US hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for aggressive cancer.

Five minutes later, at about 12:10 pm, the casket was taken off the aircraft and placed on a trolley. It was draped in traditional bark cloth and covered with the Ugandan and Tooro Kingdom flags, symbolising both the nation and the kingdom the late king served for more than three decades.

The casket was then wheeled along a red carpet towards the tent where President Museveni and other waiting dignitaries were seated. It was accompanied by members of the royal family, among them the Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa; King Oyo's sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, and her husband; and other members of the royal family.

The Queen Mother, dressed entirely in black, appeared overcome with grief. She walked slowly, bent forward and was assisted by family members as she made her way to a seat beside President Museveni and Princess Elizabeth Bagaya.

Throughout the ceremony, the Queen Mother repeatedly lowered her head and closed her eyes, reflecting the pain of losing a son she had watched ascend the Tooro throne as a three-year-old and reign for more than three decades.

The atmosphere at the airport remained sombre as the President stepped forward to receive the remains and pay his last respects to the fallen king.

In a brief eulogy delivered in Rutooro, Museveni recalled that he had been aware of King Oyo's health challenges and the family's efforts to seek treatment.

“When the Queen Mother came to see me, she informed me of the problem in November last year that the King had started developing health challenges. They decided to seek medical treatment in Germany, then the USA. Unfortunately, it was not possible to save him until God called him,” the President said.

Museveni described King Oyo as a good king, praising him for the manner in which he conducted himself during his short reign.

He said the late monarch did not involve himself in political disputes or unnecessary arguments.

“For the years he has reigned, he was a very good King. He never got involved in arguments or got involved in politics,” he said.

The President urged the people of Tooro to remain calm and united during the period of mourning, particularly as the kingdom prepares for the next phase following the death of its king.

He said other matters would be addressed later, but appealed to the Batoro not to allow grief or disagreements to divide them.

Museveni concluded his remarks by praying for the late king to have a peaceful rest.

After the eulogy, the President signed the condolence book.

He spent several moments writing his message before joining the royal family for a private meeting.

The closed-door meeting, attended by the Queen Mother, Princess Komuntale and her husband, Princess Bagaya and the Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister, lasted about 30 minutes.

The private discussions came amid heightened public attention on the future of the Tooro Kingdom and the traditional process of succession following King Oyo's death.

After the meeting, Museveni personally accompanied the royal family to the waiting military helicopter.

The helicopter later departed for Kyegegwa, where the king's casket was expected to be transferred to a hearse for the final road journey to Karuzika Palace in Fort Portal, the traditional seat of the Tooro monarch.

The casket will then be airlifted to Kyegegwa District, where it will be placed on an open, slow-moving vehicle for a road procession through Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo and Kabarole districts before entering Fort Portal city.

The arrival of the king's body marks the official nine-day cultural mourning period.
Oyo will be buried on September 12, a date that coincides with the 31st anniversary of his coronation.

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It was a sombre mood at Entebbe as Tooro Kingdom officials paid their respects to His Majesty Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the late King of Tooro Kingdom; below is a picture highlight as captured by Miriam Namutebi;