Museveni explains why royal family kept Oyo's illness private

________________ 

President Yoweri Museveni has revealed that the diagnosis of the illness that claimed Omukama of Tooro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV, was kept private as the royal family and Government sought medical treatment for the King in Germany and later in the United States.

“We kept quiet about it, and I gave them support to go and seek medical treatment in Germany, then USA. Unfortunately, it was not possible to save him until God called him,” he said on Friday after the body of the 34-year-old monarch was delivered to Entebbe International Airport.  

Museveni also told the mourners at the terminal, where a sombre atmosphere greeted the return of the body of Omukama Oyo, that the king had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. 

“When the Queen Mother came to see me, she informed me of the problem in November last, at the beginning of campaign year, during campaigns that the King had started developing health problems. He informed me that he had cancer which was very aggressive,” Museveni said in a brief eulogy delivered in Lutooro.

The revelation about the king who had ruled Tooro for more than three decades provides the clearest account yet of the severity of the illness that eventually claimed the life of the young monarch, who died nine days ago in a US hospital.

The King’s illness had largely remained private, with the royal family maintaining discretion about his condition as he sought treatment outside Uganda.

As he paid tribute to the fallen monarch, Museveni described Oyo as a good king who avoided political disputes and unnecessary confrontation.

“For the years he has reigned, he was a very good King. He never got involved in arguments or got involved in politics,” he said.

Museveni also appealed to the people of Tooro to remain calm and united during the mourning period, particularly as the kingdom faces the delicate question of its future following the King's death.

He urged the Batoro not to allow grief or disagreements to divide them, saying other matters could be addressed later.

This was after the President received the body of the late King. The aircraft carrying the casket had been scheduled to land at 10:00am, but mourners, including Museveni, waited for more than two hours before it finally arrived.

At about 12:05pm, a privately chartered Kenyan aircraft 5Y-FAM operated by Freedom Airline Express slowly taxied onto the tarmac carrying the casket.

Waiting to receive the King were Museveni, senior Government officials, members of the royal family, security personnel and journalists.

About five minutes later, the casket was removed from the aircraft and placed on a trolley. It was draped in traditional bark cloth and covered with the Ugandan and Tooro Kingdom flags, symbolising the nation and the kingdom he served for more than 30 years.

The casket was wheeled along a red carpet towards a tent where the President and other dignitaries were seated.

Members of the royal family accompanied the remains, including Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, King Oyo's sister Princess Ruth Komuntale and her husband, Princess Elizabeth Bagaya and other relatives.

The Queen Mother, dressed entirely in black, appeared overwhelmed by grief. She walked slowly, bent forward and was assisted by relatives as she made her way to her seat beside Museveni and Princess Bagaya.

Throughout the ceremony, she repeatedly lowered her head and closed her eyes, visibly mourning the son she had watched ascend the throne at just three years old and reign for more than three decades.

He then signed the condolence book before joining members of the royal family for a closed-door meeting.

The meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes, was attended by the Queen Mother, Princess Komuntale and her husband, Princess Bagaya and Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki.

After the meeting, Museveni personally accompanied the royal family to the waiting military helicopter that immediately departed for Kyegegwa, from where the casket was put on a glass-panelled Mercedes-Benz hearse to continue by road to Karuzika Palace in Fort Portal, the traditional seat of the Tooro monarch.

The slow-moving vehicle, accompanied by a convoy, is on its way to Fort Portal City

The return of the remains formally opened the nine-day cultural mourning period for the late King.

Oyo is scheduled to be buried on September 12, a date that coincides with the 31st anniversary of his coronation.