I hate long speechesâ€" King Oyo
Apr 08, 2004
HE is the youngest king in the world, who took over the mantle of Toro’s Kingdom at the tender age of three and a half, a feat that has seen him feature prominently in the international media like CNN, BBC and Deustchwelle television.
A few weeks before his 12th birthday slated for April 16, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV of Tooro Kingdom is still attracting a lot of media attention.
Though tracking down the young king was a bit of a problem owing to a busy schedule and tight security detail, it was finally made possible to track down the young King at his Muyenga residence, with the help of Mesach Kawamara the Toro Minister of Palace Affairs, where he spoke of his life as a king.
Clad in a blue tracksuit, white polo T-shirt and white Nike sneakers, the king is every inch calm, albeit the fact that queen mother, Best Kemigisha is away in London.
QUESTION: Your dressing suggests that you are ready for a jog. Do you love sports?
ANSWER: I love sports very much. I love soccer and swimming, but it is soccer I love most. During my free time at Kabira International School, I play soccer with my friends and hope to play for some local team in the future. I also support Arsenal FC in England. They are a very good team to watch and Thierry Henry is my favourite player.
Q. What do you like about being a King?
A. I love going back to my kingdom and visiting my people, but I hate the long speeches. At some functions, the speeches take too long and I get very tired and stressed. Many people like the president, prime minister and other ministers talk a lot but you cannot just walk away. You have to stay and listen.
Q. What about your birthdays?
A. I love my birthdays so much although this year I might first go to class. Though I have always wanted my birthday to be a quiet event, it turns out to be a very big event because most of my friends are invited. During last year’s birthday, Michael Ezra attended and pledged to buy me a car. I thank him for the pledge although I’m yet to get the car. I Love also my Alsatian and German shepherd dogs given to me by aunt Janet Museveni on one of my birthdays.
Q. What do you like for a birthday present this year?
A. I would wish to have my palace fully furnished and the landscape designs be completed before the coronation on 12 September.
Government and some well-wishers like Libyan President ‘Mr.’ Gadaffi have helped but there is still some work to be completed.
Q. How do your friends treat you?
A. Well... most of them openly tell me how they wished they were like me. Though am a king, I don’t want to see myself any different from them. I, however, feel lucky because I have been able to travel a lot and meet many people. The places I loved most were USA and the United Kingdom where I met many friends with whom I learnt many things most especially Art which I love very much. It is my best subject.
Q. Who are some of the personalities you have met in your life?
A. I have met President Museveni and the Kings of Buganda, Busoga, Bunyoro and other kingdoms. I look at them as my parents.
I would however, want to meet Her majesty the Queen of England, the US President George Bush and Thierry Henry of Arsenal.
Q. In the future where do you see yourself?
A. I would want to complete the work of my late father, all the things he never accomplished.
Q. I also want to set up the King Oyo Trust Fund, which will enable disadvantaged children in my kingdom access education.
A. I also expect to tell people about the dangers of HIV/AIDS because many people are dying and their children are dropping out of school.
A few weeks before his 12th birthday slated for April 16, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV of Tooro Kingdom is still attracting a lot of media attention.
Though tracking down the young king was a bit of a problem owing to a busy schedule and tight security detail, it was finally made possible to track down the young King at his Muyenga residence, with the help of Mesach Kawamara the Toro Minister of Palace Affairs, where he spoke of his life as a king.
Clad in a blue tracksuit, white polo T-shirt and white Nike sneakers, the king is every inch calm, albeit the fact that queen mother, Best Kemigisha is away in London.
QUESTION: Your dressing suggests that you are ready for a jog. Do you love sports?
ANSWER: I love sports very much. I love soccer and swimming, but it is soccer I love most. During my free time at Kabira International School, I play soccer with my friends and hope to play for some local team in the future. I also support Arsenal FC in England. They are a very good team to watch and Thierry Henry is my favourite player.
Q. What do you like about being a King?
A. I love going back to my kingdom and visiting my people, but I hate the long speeches. At some functions, the speeches take too long and I get very tired and stressed. Many people like the president, prime minister and other ministers talk a lot but you cannot just walk away. You have to stay and listen.
Q. What about your birthdays?
A. I love my birthdays so much although this year I might first go to class. Though I have always wanted my birthday to be a quiet event, it turns out to be a very big event because most of my friends are invited. During last year’s birthday, Michael Ezra attended and pledged to buy me a car. I thank him for the pledge although I’m yet to get the car. I Love also my Alsatian and German shepherd dogs given to me by aunt Janet Museveni on one of my birthdays.
Q. What do you like for a birthday present this year?
A. I would wish to have my palace fully furnished and the landscape designs be completed before the coronation on 12 September.
Government and some well-wishers like Libyan President ‘Mr.’ Gadaffi have helped but there is still some work to be completed.
Q. How do your friends treat you?
A. Well... most of them openly tell me how they wished they were like me. Though am a king, I don’t want to see myself any different from them. I, however, feel lucky because I have been able to travel a lot and meet many people. The places I loved most were USA and the United Kingdom where I met many friends with whom I learnt many things most especially Art which I love very much. It is my best subject.
Q. Who are some of the personalities you have met in your life?
A. I have met President Museveni and the Kings of Buganda, Busoga, Bunyoro and other kingdoms. I look at them as my parents.
I would however, want to meet Her majesty the Queen of England, the US President George Bush and Thierry Henry of Arsenal.
Q. In the future where do you see yourself?
A. I would want to complete the work of my late father, all the things he never accomplished.
Q. I also want to set up the King Oyo Trust Fund, which will enable disadvantaged children in my kingdom access education.
A. I also expect to tell people about the dangers of HIV/AIDS because many people are dying and their children are dropping out of school.