The body of the late Tooro King, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, has left the United States for Uganda as preparations continue for his final journey home.
The remains departed Dallas, Texas, where the King died on August 27, 2026, and are expected to arrive in Uganda on Friday, September 4. The arrival is expected to mark the beginning of a series of official ceremonies as the people of Tooro and Uganda as a whole prepare to pay their final respects to the late monarch.
King Oyo’s body is expected to arrive through Entebbe International Airport, where it will be received by government officials, members of the Tooro Royal Family, cultural leaders and other dignitaries. President Yoweri Museveni is also expected to take part in the official reception of the remains.
After the arrival at Entebbe, the body will begin its journey to western Uganda. It will eventually be taken to Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal, the traditional seat of the Tooro Kingdom, where mourners and well-wishers will have an opportunity to pay their respects.
The Tooro Kingdom has announced a nine-day mourning period following the death of the 34-year-old King. The period is expected to bring together members of the royal family, cultural leaders, government officials and thousands of ordinary people who want to honour the monarch.
King Oyo became the Omukama of Tooro in 1995 at only three years old following the death of his father, King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III. His young age attracted international attention, and he was widely recognised at the time as the world’s youngest reigning monarch.
Despite becoming king as a child, Oyo grew into the role over the years and became an important figure in Uganda’s cultural landscape. He took part in activities focused on education, youth empowerment, environmental conservation and the development of the Tooro Kingdom.
His sudden death in the United States at the age of 34 has left many people shocked and saddened. Tributes have continued to come from political leaders, cultural institutions, religious leaders, friends and members of the public, many of whom have described his death as a major loss to Tooro and Uganda.
The return of his remains now opens a new chapter in the mourning process. For the people of Tooro, the journey is more than the return of a body from abroad. It is the homecoming of a King who was placed on the throne as a young child and whose life remained closely connected to the history, culture and identity of the Tooro people.
As Uganda prepares to receive King Oyo, attention will now turn to the official programme leading to his burial. Thousands of mourners are expected to gather in Fort Portal to honour the late monarch and give him a final farewell.
