King Oyo’s Body to Arrive Thursday

RIP: King Oyo

KAMPALA — The body of Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV will arrive in Uganda on Thursday at 10:00 a.m., with President Yoweri Museveni expected to receive the remains at Entebbe International Airport, officials said.

The arrival will begin the official funeral programme for the monarch, who died in the United States on August 27 at the age of 34 after nearly 31 years on the throne.

Museveni said Queen Mother Best Kemigisa informed him several months ago that King Oyo was suffering from an aggressive form of cancer. The government supported the Royal Family in seeking treatment in Germany and later the United States, he said.

After a ceremony at Entebbe, the body is expected to be flown by helicopter to Kyegegwa District before being placed on an open carrier for a procession to Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal.

Thousands of mourners are expected to line the route to pay their respects, although officials have yet to release the complete procession and security arrangements.

Tooro Kingdom said the body would remain at Karuziika throughout the mourning period in accordance with royal custom.

“The body of His Majesty shall be transported from the airport directly to Palace, Karuziika, at Kabarole,” the Office of the Musuuga, the head of the Babiito royal clan, said.

The kingdom said Karuziika was the monarch’s only official palace, while other royal properties were classified as residences.

“Karuzika Palace is therefore the sole and proper place at which the body of His Majesty will lie for the duration of the mourning period, and no further transfer of the body between locations will take place,” it said.

The official nine-day mourning period will begin when the body arrives at the palace, providing the reference date for cultural ceremonies leading to burial.

The funeral protocols were agreed at an August 28 meeting attended by representatives of Tooro’s clans and members of the Rukurato, the kingdom’s council.

Charles Kamurasi, the Musuuga and head of the Babiito clan, is overseeing the cultural rites, burial preparations and succession process.

Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire has suspended a Rukurato meeting scheduled for Tuesday and directed officials to postpone unnecessary debates and activities.

“I am currently in Kampala engaging with government officials and other relevant authorities to coordinate arrangements for the return and interment of His Majesty the King,” Rwomiire said.

“At this solemn moment, there can be no greater priority for the Kingdom than bringing our King home and laying him to rest with the dignity, honour and respect befitting His Majesty.”

The kingdom has also formed a committee of Babiito elders to identify and formally announce King Oyo’s successor.

Rwomiire initially said the King had left behind a prince whose identity would be disclosed under Tooro traditions.

The Musuuga later said the clan was unaware of a biological heir, leaving the matter for determination through the succession process.

Museveni has granted King Oyo an official burial and directed national flags to fly at half-mast for three days — the day before burial, the burial day and the following day.

King Oyo ascended the throne in September 1995 at the age of three following the death of his father, Omukama Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III.

He was formally crowned after reaching adulthood in 2010.

Further details concerning public viewing, the burial date and other ceremonies are expected from the government and Tooro Kingdom