Today In history: The king of Toro Omukama Kaboyo, passes on

Aug 26, 2020

King Oyo was crowned a week after his father's burial and became the world's youngest monarch. 

Today in history (August 26, 1995)

A dark cloud befell Toro Kingdom following the death of Omukama Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Rwamuhokya Olimi III.

King Kaboyo's death, just two years after the restoration of kingdoms in Uganda, paved way for the asscension of his toddler son, Rukirabasaija Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru RukidiKing Oyo, to the throne. King Oyo was crowned a week after his father's burial and became  the world's youngest mornach. 

Kaboyo had been crowned king in 1965 but lost the throne two years later when the kingdoms were abolished in 1967.

King Kaboyo, his brother Prince Jimmy Mugenyi and the royal children
King Kaboyo with young Oyo, now king

 

Who was Patrick Olimi Kaboyo?

Patrick David Matthew Rwamuhokya Olimi III Kaboyo II was born on September 9, 1945 to the king of Toro, Sir George David Matthew Kamurasi Rukidi III. His mother was Lady Byanjeru Kezia Bonabaana.

He was the fourth son and had five brothers and four sisters, of whom Princess Elizabeth Bagaya was the eldest. He went to school at Budo, Nyakasura School in Fort Portal, Sherborne School, Dorset, and Makerere University. Kaboyo ascended the throne upon the death of his father, on December 21, 1965, becoming the 12th Omukama of Toro.

He reigned briefly before monarchies were abolished on September 22, 1967. After a period of exile in Kenya, he came back and served as a minister-counselor at Uganda's Embassy in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania between 1987 and 1990.

In 1987, he married Best Kemigisa, the daughter of Prince Mujungu of the Batuku clan, of Rwebisengo, Bundibugyo district. He was Uganda's Ambassador to Cuba, from 1990 to 1993.



In 1993, he returned to take up his throne after the Government restored monarchies and traditional rulers. He died on August 26, 1995 at the age of 50, leaving the throne to his three-year-old son, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

His two daughters are Princess Ruth Nsemere Komuntale; and Princess Celia Komukyeya, who died in 1997 at the age of four.

Tooro is one of the traditional kingdoms in Uganda. The current Omukama of Toro is King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Rukidi IV. The people native to the kingdom are the Batooro, and their language is Rutooro.

It was founded in 1830 when Omukama Kaboyo Olimi I, the eldest son of Omukama of Bunyoro Nyamutukura Kyebambe III of Bunyoro, seceded and established his own independent kingdom. Absorbed into Bunyoro-Kitara in 1876, it reasserted its independence in 1891.

As with Buganda, Bunyoro, and Busoga, Tooro's monarchy was abolished in 1967 by the Government of Uganda, but was reinstated in 1993.

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