‘We were planning King Oyo’s wedding, not his funeral’
King Oyo, born in 1992, was only three years old when he ascended the throne following the death of his father, King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III. His coronation in 1995 made him one of the world’s youngest reigning monarchs.
For decades, the people of Tooro watched King Oyo (L) grow from a child King into a respected young monarch who carried the responsibilities of the Kingdom with dignity.
KAMPALA - Ron Kazooba Kawamara, King Oyo Kabamba Iguru IV's cousin, has said he has struggled to find words for the loss of his King, His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV, whose life had been intertwined with his own from childhood.
Kawamara posted on his X account, formerly Twitter, on Saturday, recalling watching Oyo grow from a young boy into the 12th King of Tooro.
King Oyo, born in 1992, was only three years old when he ascended the throne following the death of his father, King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III.
His coronation in 1995 made him one of the world’s youngest reigning monarchs. For decades, the people of Tooro watched him grow from a child King into a respected young monarch who carried the responsibilities of the Kingdom with dignity.
Yet the hardest part for Ron was that they had been preparing for Oyo’s wedding, not his funeral.
He said no one had truly believed the King would die. Even Oyo had believed he was coming home. On the day of his death, the family had been expecting him to be discharged from hospital.
Only days earlier, he had still been discussing treatment options with doctors, joining the family’s daily prayer hour and making plans for the future.
Kawamara remembered Oyo’s excitement about Arsenal’s stronger squad and his anticipation of the year’s Empaango celebrations.
Kawamara described Oyo as a deeply devoted son of Tooro and Uganda who loved his family and had a special bond with the children. Above all, Kawamara said, Oyo loved God.
He remembered him as a humble and gentle servant-king who remained remarkably close to ordinary people. Oyo knew the names of his farm workers and bodyguards and remembered people he encountered.
The Crown, Kawamara observed, never separated him from his people; instead, it deepened his sense of responsibility toward them.
He said it was especially with the Queen Mother, Akiiki, who had raised a young boy carrying an extraordinary burden and watched him become a gentleman and a great King.