25 years on the throne: Toro Queen Mother congratulates Oyo

Sep 10, 2020

"It is my honour to congratulate His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukiidi IV upon your silver jubilee coronation," says Best Kemigisa.

ROYALTY

Best Kemigisa, the Queen Mother of Toro kingdom, has congratulated her son upon making it 25 years on the throne.

King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukiidi IV ascended to the throne at the age of three following the death of his father, and this Saturday, he will be marking exactly a quarter of a century at the helm.

This year's main function will be held scientifically at the Karuzika Palace in Fort Portal, Kabarole district.

In a short video message, the Queen Mother talked of how "God has been good for us".

"It is my honour to congratulate His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukiidi IV upon your silver jubilee coronation," she said.

Kemigisa thanked God for blessing the youthful monarch with the gift of life to be able to reign for such a long time.

"I thank God for life. I remember you were crowned when you were young - three years old. You have been ruling for 25 years. God has been good for us."

The Queen Mother also thanked President Yoweri Museveni and the First Lady, Janet Museveni, for loving the Toro royal family and the people of Toro as a whole.

She extended her thanks to the friends and partners of Toro kingdom in Uganda and abroad for their support.

"Let us celebrate together on this auspicious day to mark our silver jubilee. Long live the king! For God and my country!"

Rituals called off

This year, the king will not bless the royal spears, drums and other instruments of power

Meanwhile, the kingdom has called all traditional rituals and ceremonies that take place before, during and after the celebration of empango (coronation event).

Charles Kamurasi, the head of the Babiito royal clan, said that whereas the empango usually involves three days of jubilation and merrymaking at Karuzika, this year the celebration will only take a few hours.

He said all rituals and celebrations that kickstart of the annual empango, typically held on the eve of the main celebration, will not be held this year.

This year, the king will not bless the royal spears, drums and other instruments of power.

According to Kamurasi, Oyo will also not publicly wear his royal crown as has been the case in the past. The Amakondere royal trumpets and drums will also not be sounded.