Buteebbengwa Bwa Bugungu mourns Tooro King Oyo
“We extend our deepest condolences and solidarity to the people of Tooro and all Ugandans upon this great loss, and we pray that the Almighty God will give you strength in this time of grief,” Prof. Mwakali said.
Buliisa: Buteebbengwa Bwa Bugungu has joined the people of Tooro Kingdom and Ugandans in mourning the death of His Majesty Dr. Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the 34-year-old King of Tooro Kingdom.
Buteebbengwa Bwa Bugungu, under the leadership of His Highness Norman Lukumu, said it had received the news of the King’s death with shock and deep sorrow.
King Oyo died in the United States on Thursday, August 27, 2026, after being hospitalised with cancer.
In a press statement issued on Monday, August 31, 2026, Prof. Jackson Mwakali, the Prime Minister (Weirembu) of Buteebbengwa Bwa Bugungu, said the cultural institution was deeply saddened by the passing of the Tooro monarch.
“We have learnt with shock and trepidation of the sudden and untimely death of His Majesty Omukama of Tooro, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV, which occurred on August 27, 2026,” the statement said.
Buteebbengwa extended its condolences to the people of Tooro Kingdom and all Ugandans following the death of the young monarch. “We extend our deepest condolences and solidarity to the people of Tooro and all Ugandans upon this great loss, and we pray that the Almighty God will give you strength in this time of grief,” Prof. Mwakali said.
The Bugungu cultural institution also expressed its commitment to maintaining close relations with Tooro Kingdom following the King’s death. “Buteebbengwa Bwa Bugungu mourns with Tooro Kingdom and looks forward to a cordial and firm working relationship with the people of Tooro under the successor Omukama of Tooro,” the statement added.
Tooro announces nine-day mourning period
Meanwhile, Tooro Kingdom has announced a nine-day official mourning period following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV.
Under the arrangements announced by the Kingdom, the late King’s body will be transported directly from the airport to Karuzika Palace in Kabarole, where it will remain throughout the mourning period in accordance with established Tooro customs.
The arrangement places Karuzika Palace at the centre of the Kingdom’s funeral rites and means the body will not be moved to another royal residence or location after arriving at the Palace.
The protocols were contained in a statement issued on Saturday, August 29, by the Office of the Musuuga, Head of the Babiito Clan, following resolutions reached during a formal Kingdom meeting held on August 28 at Karuzika Palace.
The meeting was chaired by the Musuuga and attended by representatives of Tooro’s various clans and members of the Rukurato to consider arrangements for the funeral, mourning period and succession following the King’s death.
The official nine-day mourning period will begin once the King’s body arrives at Karuzika Palace. The date of arrival will therefore serve as the reference point for organising cultural activities and ceremonies leading to the burial.
According to the Office of the Musuuga, the decision to take the body directly to Karuzika is based on the established custom that the body of a King should not be moved from place to place.
Karuzika is regarded as the Kingdom’s sole official Palace and the seat of the King, while other royal buildings are considered residences rather than palaces.
The body will consequently lie at Karuzika throughout the mourning period, with no subsequent transfer to another location.
Musuuga to oversee funeral and succession rites
The Office of the Musuuga has taken responsibility for coordinating the cultural rites arising from the death of the King.
As Head of the Babiito Clan, the Musuuga will convene and preside over meetings relating to the funeral, direct preparations for the burial and oversee the cultural succession process.
The Kingdom has also reaffirmed that succession to the Tooro throne is a cultural process falling under the authority and custodianship of the Office of the Musuuga, with the Babiito Clan responsible for succession plans and protocols.
A committee of Babiito elders has been constituted under the leadership of the Musuuga to undertake the succession process.
The committee will identify the successor, formally communicate the successor to relevant stakeholders and prepare the traditions and cultural ceremonies associated with the transition.
The Kingdom said the process is expected to promote unity, diversity and inclusiveness among the people of Tooro.
As the Kingdom prepares to lay its monarch to rest and begin the succession process, the people of Tooro have been urged to remain united and observe the mourning period with dignity and respect for their cultural traditions.
Do you have an advertisement or article you want to publish? Mail us at theugreports@gmail.com or WhatsApp +256757022363.
