Lucky Patrick
Fort Portal City Council has convened a solemn extraordinary session to pay tribute to His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV Amooti, the revered monarch of Tooro Kingdom, whose sudden death has plunged the kingdom and the nation into deep mourning.
The devastating news was announced on Thursday by the Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister, Hon. Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire, who revealed that the King had passed away at 10:00 p.m., leaving the country in shock and grief.
Face of Tooro
Born on April 16, 1992, King Oyo ascended the Tooro throne on September 12, 1995, at the age of three, becoming the world’s youngest reigning monarch at the time.
He died at the age of 34, leaving behind a significant legacy of cultural leadership, heritage preservation, environmental conservation, and socio-economic transformation.
During the emotionally charged council sitting held at Tooro Botanical Gardens, Fort Portal City Mayor, Rev. Kintu Willy Muhanga, delivered a moving eulogy, describing King Oyo as far more than a traditional ruler.
The Mayor said the King was a symbol of identity, the true face of Tooro, and a profound source of institutional pride. He credited King Oyo with playing a pivotal role in putting Fort Portal on the global tourism map, saying the city had lost a dedicated patron, cultural father, and irreplaceable global ambassador.
According to Mayor Muhanga, King Oyo viewed tourism as more than an economic activity. He believed it was a means of restoring the dignity of his people, preserving cultural heritage, protecting the environment, and unlocking global economic opportunities.
Ambitious Leader
The Mayor further noted that the late monarch strategically positioned tourism as a cornerstone of the Tooro Kingdom Vision 2045, an ambitious development blueprint launched in 2021 during the King’s 26th coronation anniversary.
The vision placed sustainable tourism at the heart of community empowerment and livelihood transformation.
King Oyo was also celebrated for championing the renowned Ekyoto Ha Mpango Festival, an initiative credited with boosting both domestic and international tourism in the region.
In a historic display of leadership and physical endurance, the King led the 10-day Rwenzori Royal Expedition in July 2022, successfully summiting Margherita Peak at 5,109 metres above sea level. The expedition was aimed at promoting the Rwenzori region’s natural beauty and tourism potential.
Other Leaders speak out
The special council session also heard tributes from local leaders, who highlighted the King’s hands-on approach to grassroots development.
Hon. Tadeo Balisanga, councillor representing the elderly, praised King Oyo for promoting economic independence among his subjects. He recalled how the King personally distributed coffee, cocoa, and tree seedlings as part of efforts to improve household incomes and combat poverty.
Fort Portal City Deputy Mayor, Hon. Margaret Kabajwara, said King Oyo’s reign was marked by his ability to unite the people of Tooro while consistently promoting Fort Portal as a leading tourism destination to the international community.
Oyo, a strong advocate for Evironment
Hon. Margaret Muhanga Mugisa, Minister of State for Urban Development, described King Oyo as a visionary leader who passionately advocated for environmental restoration through extensive tree-planting campaigns.
Minister Muhanga urged the people of Tooro and the leadership of Fort Portal City to preserve the King’s legacy by embracing his vision for a greener and more sustainable region.
She called for renewed commitment to planting trees and greening Fort Portal and the wider Tooro region as part of efforts to address environmental degradation and the growing challenges posed by climate change.
Leaders and subjects united in grief during the extraordinary sitting, celebrating a monarch whose life, though cut short at 34, was marked by a deep commitment to his people, culture, tourism, and the environment.
As Tooro mourns the loss of its cultural titan, tributes continue to underscore the enduring imprint King Oyo left on the kingdom he served for more than three decades.