Rally driver, golfer, football fan: King Oyo's passion for sport remembered

The death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has left a gap in Uganda's sports community, with the Tooro monarch remembered for using sport to promote talent, health, and youth development.

King Oyo died aged 34 on Thursday at about 10 p.m. while undergoing treatment for aggressive cancer in the United States.

He was not only a cultural leader but also an active sportsman and supporter of several sporting activities in Tooro.

His death led to the suspension of the Tooro Kingdom MTN Masaza Cup, which had reached the second-leg stage of the semi-finals.

The Kingdom's Minister of Education and Sports, Devine Francis Kateeba, suspended the Fort Portal City and Burahya second-leg semi-final.

"Based on the Prime Minister's communication about our King's death, the match between Isaza lya Fort Portal and Isaza lya Burahya has been suspended to a later date," Kateeba said.

Kateeba said new dates for the suspended matches and tournament activities would be announced.

Before the suspension, Mwenge South had reached the final after beating Kitagwenda 1-0, while Burahya led Fort Portal City 2-1 on aggregate in the other semi-final.

The final had been scheduled for September 6, but the tournament remains on hold as Tooro mourns its King.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) also described him as a passionate supporter of football and the Uganda Cranes.

"We have lost a true friend of football. A humble King who deeply loved the Uganda Cranes and supported the game with passion and pride," FUFA said in a statement.

In his honour, FUFA directed that a moment of silence be observed before football competitions, events, and activities across the country from Friday to September 4.

One of King Oyo's biggest sporting contributions was the Tooro Kingdom MTN Masaza Cup, a competition aimed at identifying and developing local talent.

The 2026 edition was held under the theme "United by Culture, Ignited by Sport."

The tournament also carried a strong health message, encouraging people to know their HIV status.

As a UNAIDS ambassador, King Oyo used the competition to promote HIV awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage young people to test.

Match venues provided free HIV counselling and testing services, linking football with health awareness.

King Oyo also contributed to sports infrastructure by offering royal land for the construction of a sports stadium in Fort Portal.

He donated 50 acres of his private royal land to help unlock the stalled stadium project.

The planned facility was intended to provide a modern home for sports while creating opportunities for young people to discover and develop their talents.

The stadium was also seen as an opportunity for Fort Portal and Tooro to benefit from sports and tourism activities linked to Uganda's hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

King Oyo's sporting interests extended beyond football. He was passionate about motorsport and actively participated in rallying.

He tested his driving skills during the United Motor Club Fort Portal Tourism City Rally, taking part in rally runs as a driver.

He also played golf and regularly practised at Toro Golf Club. During his school years, he played tennis and took part in swimming.

The King was also a supporter of rugby, using the sport to encourage physical fitness among young people.

He took part in athletics and marathons, including the Fort Portal Tourism City Marathon, where he ran alongside his subjects while promoting health awareness and HIV testing.