Queen Mother Best Kemigisa has shared an emotional account of the difficult period when her son, the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, was battling illness. She revealed that as his condition became worrying, she found herself turning to God with a painful plea to spare her son and take her life instead.
Kemigisa recalled praying to God to protect Oyo, saying she was willing to die in his place if that could save him. In her emotional words, she pleaded, “Leave my son alone, God. Take me first. If I’m a bad person, take me.” Her prayer reflected the deep pain and helplessness she experienced as a mother watching her child go through a serious health struggle.
For a mother, seeing a child suffer can be one of the most painful experiences. Kemigisa’s account shows how desperate she became during that period, as she searched for hope while dealing with the fear that she could lose her son. Her words also reveal the strong bond she shared with the late king.
Despite the position Oyo held as the Omukama of Tooro, Kemigisa spoke about him first as her son. His illness was therefore not only a matter of concern for the kingdom but also a deeply personal experience for her family. She had to watch someone she loved dearly battle an illness while hoping and praying that he would recover.
Her recollection has touched many people because it captures the emotional side of the late king’s illness that the public may not have seen. Behind the public duties, royal ceremonies and responsibilities was a mother who was simply praying for her son to live.
Kemigisa’s words also show the extent to which parents can be willing to sacrifice for their children. Her plea to God was not about her position as Queen Mother but about the love and desperation of a mother who wanted to protect her child at any cost.
The death of King Oyo has since left a painful gap in the Tooro royal family and among many of his supporters. Kemigisa’s emotional account provides a glimpse into the private suffering experienced by the family during his illness and the desperate hope that accompanied his treatment.
Her prayer remains one of the most heartbreaking reflections of a mother’s love for her child. Although she could not change the outcome, her words show that throughout Oyo’s illness, she held on to hope and was willing to make the greatest sacrifice she could imagine for her son
