Bishop Kisembo preaches peace, unity as Tooro mourns King Oyo
Kisembo said the responsibility of choosing the next King would fall to the relevant institutions of the kingdom and appealed to the people of Tooro to accept whoever is eventually selected.
The bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese, Reuben Kisembo of Ruwenzori Diocese has called for peace, unity and forgiveness in Tooro as the kingdom mourns the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV. (Credit: Richard Sanya)
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The bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese, Reuben Kisembo of Ruwenzori Diocese has called for peace, unity and forgiveness in Tooro as the kingdom mourns the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV.
Described the period as one of deep grief for the kingdom.
Speaking to New Vision online at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal on Saturday, September 5, 2026, Kisembo said that in honour of the late king, there is a need for the people to remain united, peaceful and respecting each other.
Aged 34, Oyo, who was enthroned as king on September 12 1995, succumbed to cancer on August 27 in the United States of America.
He will be buried on September 12, at Karambi Royal Tombs, in Fort Portal, 31 years after he was crowned king aged three years.
Kisembo said the responsibility of choosing the next King would fall to the relevant institutions of the kingdom and appealed to the people of Tooro to accept whoever is eventually selected.
He said the new king would not necessarily have the same personality or character as King Oyo, but the institution itself would remain.
“Everybody has their own characters and personalities, but we believe the institution will remain,” he said.
The bishop urged the people to preserve the legacy of the monarchy and ensure that the kingdom remains united regardless of who succeeds King Oyo.
The bishop also appealed to people who may have had disagreements or differences to forgive one another and live harmoniously.
He revealed that religious and community leaders were already engaging different groups in an effort to promote reconciliation and ensure that peace prevails during the mourning period.
“We are trying to meet different groups to harmonise them and ensure that peace prevails,” Kisembo said.
He further urged the Tooro populace to remember that the region was receiving attention from people across Uganda and the rest of the world following the king’s death.
“At the moment, all eyes are on Tooro. The whole world actually, they are looking up at us,” he said.
He therefore called upon the people to remain peaceful, respectful and hospitable, particularly as visitors arrive for the burial ceremonies.
"We are calling upon the people in Tooro to be peaceful, to be respectful, to be hospitable, to receive visitors and show a good heart, even as we mourn the death of our King,” he said.
The Tooro community, the bishop said the people should be grateful for the years King Oyo spent on the throne and should draw comfort from their faith.
“We thank God for his 31 years of leadership as our King,” he said.
Quoting the Bible, Kisembo urged mourners to accept death as part of life, saying: “The Lord has given, the Lord has taken; His name be glorified,” as recorded in the Book of Job.
He said that although the death of the King had created uncertainty and grief, life would continue and the institution of the Tooro Kingdom would endure beyond the late monarch.
Reflecting on King Oyo’s leadership, Kisembo described him as an inclusive monarch who embraced people across religious and social divides.
“He was a person who would embrace all people: the Muslims, the Catholics, the Church of Uganda. He was embracing all people, and everybody loved him,” the bishop said.
He particularly highlighted the King’s relationship with young people, saying many viewed him as a contemporary role model.
According to Kisembo, this was particularly significant given Uganda’s predominantly young population.
“The youth quite saw him as a kind of contemporary leader, and as we know, this country has a majority of its population as young people. So, they looked up to him as their moral model,” he said.
The bishop said King Oyo encouraged young people to engage in activities such as tree planting and HIV prevention, among other initiatives.
Kisembo also cited several initiatives associated with the late king, including King Oyo Model Farm in Bugaki, an ICT centre in Fort Portal and programmes aimed at improving cleanliness in the city.
He said the king also promoted environmental conservation through tree planting and the preservation of wetlands.
“He had good programmes, and he was interactive with the people, meeting with them. He loved sports and so on. Basically, he was everywhere,” Kisembo said.
The bishop argued that King Oyo’s ability to interact with ordinary people and engage in different aspects of community life contributed to the widespread grief following his death.
“That’s why his passing has saddened many people,” he said.