Hundreds of mourners and Tooro Kingdom loyalists on Thursday lined the Fort Portal-Kampala Highway to pay their last respects to the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV as his body was transported to Fort Portal ahead of burial.
The revered monarch, who died last Thursday in Dallas, United States, was flown back to Uganda on Thursday for burial on Friday.
The body arrived at Humura Playground in Kyegegwa at about 1:15 p.m., where it was offloaded from a helicopter and placed on a waiting horse before the procession continued towards Fort Portal.
By 10 a.m., hundreds of mourners had already gathered at the playground, with some trekking from Kyegegwa town to join the procession.
Along the Kyegegwa-Fort Portal highway, large crowds gathered at trading centres and roadside vantage points to catch a glimpse of the cortege.
In Kyenjojo town, the normally busy streets were subdued, with several businesses closed as residents gathered along the highway to mourn the king.
Some mourners had braved the midday sun since 10 a.m., listening to speeches from political and cultural leaders who highlighted the late king’s contribution to Tooro Kingdom and called for respect for its customs and traditions. Tears were visible among some mourners as the hearse approached the town.
Large crowds were also reported at Rugombe, Kagororo, Butiiti and Ngezi trading centres, with some mourners holding posters bearing the image of the late king.
Others gathered at boda boda stages and roadside vantage points to watch the procession.
By 3 p.m., a large crowd had gathered near the signpost leading to King Oyo’s demonstration farm in Bugaki.
Security was heightened along the Kyegegwa-Fort Portal route, with police and UPDF personnel deployed to manage traffic and maintain order as the procession made its way towards Fort Portal.
For many mourners, the procession was an opportunity to publicly remember the king, whom they described as a promising young leader committed to the development and unity of Tooro.
Mwesige Beyamura, one of the mourners, praised King Oyo for promoting development and unity in the kingdom.
Peter Kyomuhangi described the late king as a development pillar who remained down-to-earth and passionate about health, sports and the welfare of his subjects.
Godfrey Businge, the Kyenjojo Town Council mayor, said allowing residents to freely mourn the king was important, given Mwenge’s contribution to the affairs of the Tooro Kingdom.
King Oyo, who ascended the Tooro throne as a child in 1995, was one of Uganda’s longest-serving traditional leaders at the time of his death-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
