'King Oyo, the brother who scripted my love story'

TRIBUTE 

Tears flowed freely in Buziga, Kampala, as Eng. Paul Charles Rukundo, the Vice-President of the Uganda Golf Union, struggled to find the words to capture what Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV meant to him.

To the Kingdom of Tooro and the world, Oyo was a monarch. But to Rukundo, he was a childhood companion who became a brother, a lifelong confidant, and the man who orchestrated the defining love story of his life by introducing him to his wife, Sherron Muhwezi Rukundo Amooti.

“I first met him during our high school days,” recalled Rukundo, who is a former Captain Board of Trustees and immediate past interim chairperson board of directors of the Uganda Golf Club. Rukundo added, “At the time, King Oyo lived under strict limitations as a teenage king. But when we went to university abroad, our bond truly deepened.”

Away from the rigid protocol of the royal court, the two grew inseparable. “We would hang out constantly. He loved me like a brother. He was caring, loyal, genuine, and deeply God-fearing. He was brilliant yet humble, balanced in his views, and always supportive,” Rukundo said. 

The bond between the two was so close that the King bestowed upon Rukundo the pet name Achaali, meaning “you resemble me.” Their striking physical resemblance often led to humorous encounters.

 “Once, on our way from Fort Portal, we stopped in Kyenjojo. Bystanders rushed over, calling out, ‘Omukama! Omukama!’ bowing with deep respect because they mistook me for him. When I told the King, he laughed heartily, though he warned me to be mindful of my security,” Rukundo reminisced.  

The royal matchmaker

The King’s influence on Rukundo’s life took a historic turn in 2013 during a visit to the royal palace in Fort Portal. Rukundo noticed the King’s cousin, Sherron Muhwezi Amooti, and expressed keen interest in getting to know her. Delighted by the prospect, King Oyo immediately took on the role of a matchmaker.

“He was thrilled and actively encouraged me to pursue a relationship with Sherron,” Rukundo said, adding, “Strategically, he began bringing her along to our social outings, knowing it made me happy and would allow our bond to grow naturally.”

According to Rukundo, the King also spoke warmly to Sherron on his behalf, assuring her that he (Rukundo) was a man of integrity.

“I waited for her to complete her degree. When she graduated in October 2014, I shared my intention to marry her with the King. He was overjoyed that our union would bring us even closer as family,” Rukundo recalled. 

When the couple wed in July 2015, King Oyo broke conventional royal reserve to celebrate them.

“I believe we were among the very few couples to have the King attend both the church service and the wedding reception. I remember him telling me: ‘It is not easy with royal protocol, but I am doing this because we are beyond friends. We are brothers.’ He always referred to himself as our number one fan,” Rukundo said. 

Beyond the palace walls, Rukundo remembers a young man whose true sanctuary was the wilderness. (Credit: Nickson Turyahikayo)

Lions, game drives, and Arsenal

Beyond the palace walls, Rukundo remembers a young man whose true sanctuary was the wilderness.

“He loved animals deeply. If he hadn't been born a king, he would have either become a wildlife conservationist or joined the ministry of wildlife. As a boy, he always talked about wanting to be a game ranger,” Rukundo stated.

Some of their happiest times were spent on family retreats in Queen Elizabeth National Park, tracking lions and leopards before unwinding over long conversations.

“I will deeply miss his laughter, his sharp counsel, our debates, watching Arsenal matches together, and sharing plates of chicken and rice, his favourite meal,” Rukundo noted.

As years passed, Rukundo said the King became a fixture in their household, embracing their children (his nieces), who affectionately called him “Uncle King.”

Even as his health declined, his focus remained on the people he loved.

“Whenever the King reached out, he never complained about himself or showed fear,” Rukundo said, adding, “His first questions were always about Sherron, the children, and my mother. He never stopped looking out for us.”

‘He gave me a husband’

For Sherron, the grief carries the weight of a lifetime of shared memories. The two grew up side-by-side from Primary Two to Primary Six at Aga Khan Primary School before she moved to Kampala Parents School.

“He was like an elder brother to me. Even as a schoolboy, he had an innate gentleness. If a classmate was injured while playing football, King Oyo would be the first person to check on them the following day,” Sherron said softly.

Sherron said the King told her that he trusted Charles and knew he would make a wonderful husband.

She fondly remembers the day the King asked her to give Rukundo a chance. “He brought Charles to me and said, ‘Amooti, ninkusaba ogonze omusaija ogu Charles’ (Amooti, I ask that you open your heart to Charles),” she recalled.

Sherron said the King told her that he trusted Charles and knew he would make a wonderful husband.

She added: “Over the years, he gave us countless gifts, but his greatest gift to me was my family. I will miss the brother I grew up with and the guardian who shaped our lives. I have lost far more than a monarch. I have lost a brother, a best friend, and the man who gave me my family.”