UNAIDS honours King Oyo’s legacy in the fight against AIDS
“Heartfelt condolences to the people of Tooro Kingdom, the Royal Family, the Government and people of Uganda, and all those whose lives were touched by His Majesty’s leadership and service,” Byanyima said in her tribute.
His Majesty King Oyo was recognised as a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for ending AIDS among young people in Eastern and Southern Africa at the age of 24. (Courtesy Photo)
UNAIDS has expressed deep sadness over the passing of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of the Tooro Kingdom at the age of 34.
“King Oyo used his voice, his influence, and his deep commitment to young people to advance the vision of ending AIDS as a public health threat,” said UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima.
Byanyima further noted that the monarch’s advocacy reminded the world that young people must be at the centre of the HIV response, with access to education, information, protection and opportunities to thrive.
“Heartfelt condolences to the people of Tooro Kingdom, the Royal Family, the Government and people of Uganda, and all those whose lives were touched by His Majesty’s leadership and service,” she said in her tribute.
"He understood that ending AIDS requires investing in young people, keeping them in school, protecting them from violence, and ensuring that no one is left behind,” Makokha noted.
In this regard, UNAIDS honours the late Oyo’s legacy and reaffirms its commitment to work with partners, communities and young people to end AIDS and build healthier, safer futures for all.
As the Tooro Kingdom observes its period of mourning, UNAIDS stands with the Royal Family, the Babiito clan and the people of Tooro during this most difficult time, she said.
In 2016, King Oyo was recognised as a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for ending AIDS among young people in Eastern and Southern Africa. He accepted the role at the age of 24, at a time when he was widely respected as the youngest reigning monarch in the world and as an influential voice for young people across the region.
Executive Director UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima addressing guests during the recent 3rd annual Reproductive Justice Litigation Baraza 2025. (Courtesy Photo)
His advocacy also underscored the importance of keeping young people, especially adolescent girls and young women, in school, where they can access information, protection, support systems and life skills that reduce vulnerability to HIV, teenage pregnancy, early marriage and gender-based violence.
Growing into the crown
For three decades, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV lived a life that few Ugandans could imagine, growing from a toddler king who loved toys and football into a modern monarch with a taste for music, fashion and the social life around the kingdom.
The late Oyo became king at just three years old, at an age when most children were learning to read, play and navigate the ordinary routines of childhood. Yet Oyo grew up knowing that his life was different.
He inherited the Tooro throne following the death of his father, King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, in 1995. His coronation rituals began in the early hours of September 12 that year, culminating in the installation of one of the world’s youngest monarchs.