📸 Fort Portal mammoth crowds welcome King Oyo

FORT PORTAL - The nine official days of mourning have begun in Tooro, marked by an unprecedented turnout as the remains of the fallen king return to his kingdom.

At exactly 5:59 p.m., the body of the man who left his kingdom alive returned lifeless.

It was a deeply emotional moment for the people of Fort Portal.

At Karuzika, the atmosphere was charged with grief, anticipation and deep emotion. (All Photos by Richard Sanya)

Even police officers who had been deployed to manage traffic appeared overwhelmed by the significance of the moment. Some briefly paused from their duties to capture the historic scene on their phones.

The excitement and emotions were intense. In the massive crowds, some people were knocked down, although they survived with injuries.

This was the scene throughout the city as the fallen king entered the city of dreams, Fort Portal.

In Tooro culture, when a king dies, his subjects mourn for nine days.
With the king, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV's body now returned to the place, the nine days of mourning officially began on Friday.

The mood across the city is overwhelmingly sorrowful.

People standing along the roads mourned and said their prayers aloud as they bid farewell to the fallen king.

For many, this is the last opportunity to give him a warm welcome and pay their final respects.

The wailing is intense.

Many of the subjects who gathered had grown up believing that the king they had watched over the years would always be in their midst, but that expectation has been shattered.

Death has cut his journey short.

The turnout in Fort Portal appeared bigger than what was witnessed in Kyenjojo, where large numbers of people also stood along the road to receive the remains.

In Fort Portal, the crowds on Fry were overwhelming.

At River Mpanga, traffic came to a halt as thousands gathered along the route. An elderly man in the crowd exclaimed that the city had never experienced anything like that.

Meanwhile, sorrowful music played at Mpanga Market, providing a sombre soundtrack to the farewell. For many, it was a way of saying goodbye to the fallen king, but the mournful rhythm also seemed to deepen the pain of the moment.

As the procession moved towards the city centre, virtually everyone appeared to be out.

Every street was busy. People stood along roads, gathered at junctions and filled open spaces, all hoping to catch a final glimpse of their king.

Movement through the city became difficult as the enormous crowds filled the streets.

The commuter bodabodas carried more than two passengers, with some riders holding tree branches, waving them in the air as though heading to a celebration.

Hundreds of vehicles entered the city, while large crowds stood along the roadside, waving as the procession of vehicles moved past.

At Karuzika, the atmosphere was charged with grief, anticipation and deep emotion.

Crowds have gathered in large numbers, lining the roads to witness the return of their king. The streets are filled with people, while vehicles move slowly through the city amid the huge gathering.

As the day welcomed the night, the evening sun gave a rare bright light, casting its final light over the city.

Fort Portal was not simply receiving the remains of its fallen king. The entire city came out to mourn him.

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The excitement and emotions were intense. In the massive crowds, some people were knocked down, although they survived with injuries. (All Photos by Richard Sanya)