Security has been heightened at Karuzika Palace in Fort Portal ahead of the burial of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV on Saturday.
A heavy deployment of police and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) personnel was visible at the palace on Friday morning, with sniffer dogs brought in to conduct a thorough security sweep of the premises and surrounding compound.
The heightened security comes as the palace enters the final day of public mourning and viewing of the late king’s body. Omukama Oyo died on August 27, prompting days of mourning and preparations for his final rites.
Security has been present at the palace since the king’s death, with officers conducting routine patrols and screening mourners, officials, journalists and service providers entering the premises. However, Friday’s operation was significantly more stringent.
At about 9:30 am, people inside the palace were ordered to leave the premises and wait outside the main gate as security officers, accompanied by sniffer dogs, carried out a detailed sweep of the palace buildings and compound.
A police officer who spoke to Uganda Radio Network on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media said the operation followed a visit to the palace by Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba, who had gone to pay his last respects to the late king.
The IGP left shortly after paying his respects, after which security officers intensified the sweep of the palace. For more than an hour, police officers and sniffer dogs searched different sections of the palace and its compound before members of the public were allowed back inside under tighter security restrictions.
One of the most notable changes on Friday was a ban on mobile phones inside the palace. Unlike previous days, mourners are now required to leave their phones at the main gate before entering. Bags are also subjected to inspection, while individuals undergo security screening.
The phones are registered, assigned identification numbers and linked to their owners before being securely kept at the gate. Owners are expected to collect them when they leave the palace. The restriction has also affected journalists covering the mourning activities, who have been directed to surrender their mobile phones at the entrance.
The tightened measures come as Fort Portal prepares for Saturday’s final funeral ceremonies, which are expected to draw mourners, cultural leaders, government officials and members of the public from across the country and beyond.
Friday is the last day for the public to view the remains of Omukama Oyo at Karuzika Palace. The late king will be laid to rest on Saturday at the Karambi Royal Tombs, the traditional burial grounds of the kings of Tooro.
Omukama Oyo, who ascended the Tooro throne as a child in 1995, became one of the world’s youngest reigning monarchs. His death at the age of 32 has brought an outpouring of grief across Tooro, with weeks of mourning and preparations culminating in his burial this weekend-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
