Princess Elizabeth Bagaya speaks out on King Oyo's death
The princess described her nephew as a king who loved the people of Tooro and was optimistic about the future of his kingdom.
Princess Elizabeth Bagaya poses for a photo with a child who came to the palace to mourn. (Photo by Jonan Tusingwire)
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FORT PORTAL — Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the king of Tooro who died last week, had much more to offer his people, according to the aunt, Princess Elizabeth Bagaya.
On Saturday, September 5, at Karuziika Palace ESW in Fort Portal, the 90-year-old princess described her nephew as a king who loved the people of Tooro and was optimistic about the future of his kingdom.
“He had just started and loved Batooro so much. He was happy and had high hopes of the things he was going to do for his people, but God has taken him. But let us wait and see what happens in the future. It is still a hard road ahead of us. Nine days have not yet elapsed,” she said in a rare press interview.
Bagaya also thanked the people of Tooro and others who have stood with the kingdom during the mourning period, urging them to continue praying for the royal family and the future of the kingdom.
“Thank you so much for loving your king. God has taken him while he was still young, but let us pray and pray for us and see how the future will be. God should have protected this child who was still young and instead taken us who are old,” the senior royal remarked.
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 12th at Karambi Royal tombs, in Fort Portal, 31 years after he was crowned king aged three years.
Rare public appearance
Karuziika Palace watchers say that Bagaya's remarks at Karuziika Palace are particularly significant.
The former diplomat and Foreign Affairs Minister in the central government, the senior princess of the Toro royal family, rarely gives press interviews.
Her emotional appearance came as mourners continued paying their final respects to the late king, whose body is lying in state at Karuzika Palace.
Hundreds of mourners have been turning up at the palace to view the body and pay tribute to the monarch who ascended to the Tooro throne as a child and reigned for more than three decades.
Named Elizabeth Christobel Edith Bagaaya Nyabongo Akiiki, she was born on February 9, 1936, to Omukama (King) Sir George David Matthew Kamurasi Rukidi III and Queen Kezia Byanjeru Abwooli.
With over 20 siblings, Bagaaya served as Batebe (Princess Royal) and key advisor to her brother, King Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, who succeeded their father, King Rukidi, in 1965.
After Kaboyo's passing in 1995, Bagaaya became a guardian and principal regent to her nephew, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV enthroned at three years old to succeed his father.
The Principal regents, including President Yoweri Museveni, were entrusted to guide the monarch and manage kingdom affairs during his minority and youth until he turned 18 years old.