By
Chy okeke
Tooro Kingdom’s monarch Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has died at the age of 34, the kingdom’s Prime Minister announced.
Oyo ascended the throne in 1995 at just three years old following the death of his father, making him the youngest reigning monarch recognized by Guinness World Records. He ruled the western Ugandan kingdom for nearly three decades.
The Tooro Kingdom did not state the cause of death. However, a Ugandan government minister told local media that the king had been seriously ill and was receiving treatment in the United States.
Although Uganda operates under an elected president and parliament, traditional kingdoms like Tooro retain strong cultural influence.
Oyo governed more than 2 million people as the 13th king of Tooro, a monarchy founded in the early 1800s.
Confirming the passing on Thursday, Tooro Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki described it as an “immeasurable loss” to both the royal family and the kingdom’s people.
“I call upon all the people of Tooro to remain united, calm and prayerful during this profoundly difficult time,” Akiiki said in a statement Friday. “May His Majesty the King rest in eternal peace.”
Tooro follows a hereditary system for choosing its ruler. Oyo was not married, but the prime minister said the line of succession is secure.
“His Majesty leaves behind a Prince as his heir, whose identity will be formally revealed at the appropriate time, in accordance with the traditions and customs of Tooro Kingdom,” Akiiki said.
After Oyo’s coronation as a child in 1995, a regency led by the queen mother governed until he turned 18 and was officially crowned.
The late king was widely respected. According to the Daily Monitor, he championed youth empowerment, education, climate conservation, and HIV/AIDS awareness.
Uganda’s largest traditional institution, the Buganda Kingdom, also expressed condolences, calling Oyo a significant figure for the country and mourning with the people of Tooro.
