Ssenyonyi recalls Oyo’s rise from child king to visionary leader

The mood across the country, and especially in Tooro kingdom, is one of profound grief following the death of Omukama Rukirabasaija Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

In Kampala, messages of condolence have continued to pour in from political leaders, religious figures and members of the public, while in Tooro, the grief is deeply personal, with the kingdom mourning a young monarch who grew into a symbol of hope, unity and development.

Speaking about the passing of the Omukama, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi said King Oyo was not only a leader to the people of Tooro but also a national figure whose influence was felt across Uganda.

He said the country was mourning alongside the royal family and the people of Tooro, describing the death as a painful shock, particularly because many Ugandans had watched the king grow into leadership from a very young age.

“First and foremost, I want to commiserate with the royal family of Tooro, the people of Tooro and the people of Uganda at large. King Oyo was not just a leader for Tooro. The entire country knew about his leadership.”

The Leader of the Opposition said that, as someone from a similar generation, he had followed King Oyo's journey with great interest and had held high hopes for the kind of leader he would become.

He described the late king as a visionary and focused leader who understood his responsibility to the people and demonstrated leadership across generations.

He pointed to initiatives associated with the kingdom, particularly in healthcare, education, tourism and environmental conservation, saying they reflected a monarch who had a clear sense of purpose and a commitment to improving the lives of his people.

“You would really see a leader who was very focused, who knew what he was doing and who knew how to lead his people. Those who were older than him, those of his age and those who were younger, you could see that he was offering leadership to all of them,” he said.

Amid the grief, however, he said his Christian faith gave him hope, noting that King Oyo had openly spoken about his relationship with God.

“What gives me hope as a Christian is that he died in the Lord. The Bible tells us that blessed are those who die in the Lord,” he said.

“King Oyo died knowing the Lord. We have all seen the videos of him talking about his close relationship with the Lord,” he added.

He said that faith offered some comfort at a difficult moment and concluded by praying for the late King’s soul and for comfort for the royal family and the people of Tooro.

“Amid these very difficult times, that gives me hope. We pray that the Lord rests his soul in eternal peace,” he said.