Queen mother Kemigisa, eight relatives aboard King Oyo’s last flight
According to the permanent secretary in the Office of the President, Yunus Kakande, and high-ranking sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the King’s body will leave Texas, USA, on Thursday morning at 11:00 am USA time (7:00 pm EAT) aboard a US aircraft.
King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV performing empango rituals as Queen Mother Best Kemigisa. The king’s death has come as a shock to relatives who had remained hopeful that he would return to Tooro alive. (File photo)
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The body of Tooro’s King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV is expected to leave the United States for Uganda today, Thursday, accompanied by Queen Mother Best Kemigisa and eight other relatives, as the Kingdom prepares to receive its late monarch ahead of his burial.
The king’s death has come as a shock to relatives who had remained hopeful that he would return to Tooro alive.
“He went to the USA for medical tests to establish the cause of health complications he had developed. Unfortunately, he never returned. He now returns not alive but dead. What a shock!” one of the King’s closest Cousins narrated in an interview with New Vision.
“When he started getting persistent headaches, he decided to go for medical checkup and treatment. This was in November last year. Because the cancer was very aggressive, he decided to stay there. Three months ago, he was admitted in the hospital. Surprisingly, on Wednesday, there were hopes that he would be discharged from the hospital. Unfortunately, something happened and he was put on life support. He died on Thursday morning,” the cousin, who asked not to be named told New Vision.
Speaking at the Buziga residence during a condolence speech, Ron Kawamara, another cousin of the late Omukama of Tooro, connected the story of the king’s final moments.
While eulogising the king, Kawamara told mourners that no one believed the monarch would die.
“Even His Majesty believed he was coming home. On the day he passed, we had expected him to be discharged. Only a week earlier, he was still speaking with doctors about new treatment options and participating in the daily family prayer hour. He was happy that Arsenal had started the season with a stronger squad. He was looking forward to this year’s Empaango. He was still making plans. Still hopeful. Still living,” he said.
According to the permanent secretary in the Office of the President, Yunus Kakande, and high-ranking sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the King’s body will leave Texas, USA, on Thursday morning at 11:00 am USA time (7:00 pm EAT) aboard a US aircraft.
The body will be accompanied by nine people, including Queen Mother Best Kemigisa.
The aircraft will make a stopover in Amsterdam before flying to East Africa and landing in Nairobi.
Kakande said the plane is expected to arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 9:00 am on Friday, after which the body will be transferred to a private aircraft for the final leg to Uganda.
The plane is expected to arrive at Entebbe International Airport at 10:00 am.
Permanent secretary in the foreign affairs ministry Vincent Bagiire said Uganda’s mission in the United States had been closely involved in the repatriation process.
“For any repatriation of bodies, our Missions are very much involved because there’s a lot of documentation needed by the host state and the bereaved family members. As a Mission, we are always there to offer support,” Bagiire said.
“I may not divulge all the details, but the President has done all it takes to ensure that the body is brought back home,” he added.
Upon arrival at Entebbe, the late king’s body will be received by President Yoweri Museveni, members of the Tooro royal family, government officials and cultural leaders.
Kakande said the President would pay his last respects to the late Omukama and convey condolences to the royal family, the people of Tooro and the country.
“The President will pay his last respects to the late Omukama and convey his condolences to the royal family, the people of Tooro and Uganda,” Kakande said.
Following the ceremony at Entebbe, the body is expected to be transported by helicopter to Kyegegwa district, where the kingdom starts.
From there, it will be placed on an open carrier to allow people along the route to pay their last respects before the procession continues to Fort Portal city.
The procession will culminate at Karuzika Palace, the traditional seat of the Tooro kingdom, where cultural rites and other preparations for the burial will take place.
Nine days of mourning
Kakande and the prime minister of Tooro, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire, said the official nine-day mourning period will begin when the body reaches Karuzika Palace on Friday, September 4.
The mourning period will precede the burial of the king, in accordance with arrangements announced by the government and the kingdom.
He said Wednesday, September 2, marked the final day of condolence meetings at the Buziga residence as the family shifted its attention to receiving the king’s body and preparing for the burial.
Rwomiire described the death of Oyo as particularly painful because of the King’s young age and the plans he still had for Tooro.
“It was unfortunate that the King has passed away at such a young age,” he said, adding that Oyo had “so many visions and intentions” for the Kingdom. But life is what it is at the moment.”
International dignitaries expected
The kingdom is also preparing to receive foreign dignitaries expected to attend the burial, including traditional rulers, representatives of cultural institutions, the late King’s friends and members of the international media.
Rwomiire said the kingdom would work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate protocol and ensure the smooth arrival and participation of international guests.
Kakande said several dignitaries from cultural institutions around the world were expected in Uganda.
The Government has also taken over several aspects of the official burial arrangements.
Kakande said President Museveni, whom he described as the king’s Mukuza (regent), had provided financial support to the royal family during Oyo’s treatment and in the repatriation of his body.
Government, he said, had also taken responsibility for the official burial, provision of food for mourners, construction of tents at Fort Portal Cathedral where prayers will be held on the burial day, and construction of the Kasolya, the traditional house where Tooro kings are buried.
Burial
The king will be buried on Saturday, September 12, the same date on which he was coronated.
September 12, 1995, is the date Oyo took over as the Omukama of Tooro and was this year due to mark his 31st coronation anniversary.