FORT PORTAL — The Tooro Kingdom has appealed for calm following the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, as consultations begin over arrangements to repatriate the late king’s body to Uganda and prepare for his burial.
Charles Kamurasi, head of the Babiito royal clan and uncle to the late Omukama, issued the call while officially addressing the kingdom following the king’s passing. He urged members of the royal family, kingdom subjects and the wider public to remain calm and avoid speculation as the kingdom and government work through the arrangements surrounding the monarch’s death.
Kamurasi’s remarks come at a sensitive moment for the Tooro Kingdom, where the death of a reigning monarch has naturally raised questions about funeral arrangements, the return of the king’s remains and the future leadership of the institution.
He cautioned against relying on unverified information, particularly regarding the burial programme and succession. The appeal is expected to help prevent conflicting announcements and rumours from creating confusion during the mourning period.
Meanwhile, engagements are underway at the Buziga home of the late King Oyo in Kampala, bringing together Tooro Kingdom leaders and government officials to discuss the next steps following his death.
Henry Basaaliza Mutegeki, the Tooro Kingdom Second Deputy Prime Minister, said the discussions are primarily focused on preparations to bring the king’s body back to Uganda and arrangements for his burial.
The consultations highlight the coordination required between the royal institution and the central government in handling the death of a sitting traditional leader. Details concerning the timing of the repatriation, burial programme and other official ceremonies are expected to emerge after the consultations are concluded.
The death of King Oyo marks a significant moment for Tooro, a kingdom whose institution was restored in 1993 after traditional monarchies were abolished in Uganda in 1967.
Oyo became Omukama of Tooro at a very young age and subsequently grew into one of Uganda’s most prominent cultural leaders. His reign attracted considerable public attention because of his position as the head of one of the country’s oldest traditional institutions.
With the kingdom now entering a period of mourning, attention is likely to remain focused on the royal family and kingdom authorities as they coordinate the funeral arrangements.
However, Kamurasi’s call for restraint underscores the importance of allowing the official process to take its course before definitive announcements are made.
The issue of succession is particularly sensitive because it concerns the future of the Tooro monarchy. For now, kingdom officials have emphasised consultations and preparations for the late king’s final rites rather than making premature declarations about what comes next.
As discussions continue in Kampala, Tooro subjects and supporters of the kingdom are being urged to await official communication from authorised kingdom and government representatives.
The immediate priority, according to the officials involved, remains the repatriation of King Oyo’s remains and giving the late monarch a dignified burial, while allowing the royal family and the kingdom to mourn without the added pressure of speculation.
Further details about the burial programme and subsequent arrangements are expected to be communicated officially once consultations between the relevant authorities are completed.
