The burial of Tooro’s late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV is underway in Fort Portal, Uganda, with royal and cultural representatives from across Africa joining the Tooro royal family and thousands of mourners for his final send-off.
King Oyo, who died aged 34 after receiving treatment for cancer in the United States, is being laid to rest at the Karambi Royal Tombs, the traditional burial ground for Tooro’s kings.
The funeral began with a service at St John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal before the procession moves towards the royal tombs. Uganda has deployed heavy security around the ceremony, while access to some areas has been restricted to protect the traditional burial rites.
The burial marks the end of a nine-day mourning period for the monarch, who ascended the Tooro throne on September 12, 1995, at just three years old. His burial date also falls on the 31st anniversary of his accession to the throne.
Religious Leaders Lead King Oyo’s Final Service
The funeral service for King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV is being held at St John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal City, led by senior Anglican clergy. Archbishop Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, head of the Church of Uganda, is presiding over the service as the main celebrant. He is assisted by Rt. Rev. Reuben Kisembo Amooti, Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese, who is serving as co-celebrant and host bishop. The Very Rev. Canon Robert de Gava, Dean of St John’s Cathedral, is overseeing the cathedral’s liturgical proceedings.
The service has also drawn religious leaders from different denominations, including representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, Muslim community, Protestant churches and Pentecostal ministries. After the cathedral service, clergy will accompany the royal family to the Karambi Royal Tombs, where Christian committal prayers will precede the traditional Babiito burial rites led by Tooro’s cultural authorities, including the Omusuna, the kingdom’s chief traditional priest.
African royals gather in Fort Portal
King Oyo’s final send-off has attracted traditional leaders and royal representatives from Uganda and other parts of Africa, reflecting the relationships he maintained with other cultural institutions during his reign.
Among those represented at the burial is the Wanga Kingdom of Kenya, whose delegation is led by the Nabongo and includes three of his sons, the princes.
The gathering also includes representatives of the Alur Kingdom, with the Ugandan kingdom having earlier announced a delegation to attend the burial. The Alur delegation was appointed to represent King Phillip Olarker Rauni III, who could not personally attend because he was indisposed.
Other royal and cultural representatives at the ceremony include delegations associated with Eswatini, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, Kingdom of Wori from Worri State Nigeria led by the Prince as well as representatives of other traditional institutions.
The presence of the regional royal delegations adds an international dimension to a funeral that has already attracted senior Ugandan government officials, religious leaders and cultural figures.
Uganda’s traditional institutions have also turned out to mourn the late monarch. Representatives from Buganda, Busoga, Bunyoro-Kitara and Rwenzururu, alongside the host Tooro Kingdom, have joined the proceedings.
The Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Wilberforce Kadhumbula Nadiope IV, and the Omusinga of Rwenzururu, Charles Wesley Mumbere, were among the cultural leaders who paid tribute to Oyo following his death. The Alur King, Phillip Olarker Rauni III, also sent condolences, describing Oyo as a close friend of the Alur royal institution.
Bunyoro delegation joins final rites
The Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom has also maintained a visible presence during the mourning period.
Bunyoro and Tooro share historical ties through the Babiito royal lineage, with Tooro having emerged from Bunyoro more than two centuries ago.
A Bunyoro delegation delivered nine cattle to the Tooro Kingdom as part of the funeral arrangements, reinforcing the cultural ties between the two institutions. Bunyoro representatives also urged Tooro subjects to remain united during the transition following Oyo’s death.
Other cultural institutions representing the wider Luo community also met at Karuziika Palace ahead of the burial. The gathering included representatives of Ker Alur, Ker Kwaro Acholi, Batooro Babiito, Banyoro Babiito and other cultural groups.
King Oyo’s family attends final farewell
Members of the late king’s immediate family have also taken part in the funeral. His mother, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, and sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, have been central figures throughout the mourning period.
Their presence comes against the backdrop of the succession dispute that emerged after Oyo’s death. The succession issue was eventually cleared sufficiently for Saturday’s burial to proceed, with Kijanangoma positioned to take part in the traditional rites surrounding Oyo’s final journey.
Traditional rites follow cathedral service
While the public funeral service has provided a Christian farewell, the burial at Karambi carries deep traditional significance.
The Omusuna, the traditional chief priest responsible for the burial of Tooro monarchs, is expected to guide the incoming king through rituals reserved for the successor.
One of the key rites involves the new monarch casting nine coffee berries into the grave, a tradition linked to the burial of Tooro kings.
Authorities have maintained tight security throughout Fort Portal, with police and other security agencies deployed around the palace, cathedral and roads leading to the royal tombs. Security checks were being conducted at various checkpoints, while access to Karuziika Palace was tightened ahead of the burial.
Uganda’s government took charge of the official burial preparations following President Yoweri Museveni’s directive. The government said it would cover the major costs associated with the state-supported send-off, while visiting cultural delegations from across Africa were expected to pay their respects.
