A sombre mood has gripped Kyegegwa District as the body of the late Tooro King, His Majesty Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, arrived at Humura Grounds on Friday, September 4, 2026.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at Humura to pay their last respects to the monarch, whose death has left the Tooro Kingdom and Uganda mourning. The body was flown to Kyegegwa after being received earlier at Entebbe International Airport by President Yoweri Museveni and other government officials.
King Oyo died at the age of 34 after falling ill while receiving treatment in the United States. He became widely known around the world after taking over the Tooro throne in 1995 when he was only three years old, making him the world’s youngest reigning monarch at the time.
His return home has attracted large crowds along the route as residents seek an opportunity to honour a king who spent more than three decades at the centre of Tooro’s cultural life.
Humura also carries a special connection to the royal family. Members of the family, including King Oyo’s grandfather and father, had planted trees at the school. King Oyo himself planted a tree there last year, making Friday’s visit especially emotional for residents.
From Kyegegwa, the body is expected to continue its journey through Kyenjojo and Kabarole before reaching Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal.
The kingdom has planned nine days of mourning and funeral activities, with King Oyo’s burial scheduled for September 12.
As the casket moved through Kyegegwa, mourners stood along the roads, many waving and observing the procession in silence.
For the people of Tooro, the journey is more than a funeral. It is a final farewell to a king who became part of their history from childhood and remained a major symbol of their cultural identity until his death.