Deadi bodi of Uganda youngest king wey die at 34 don arrive from US

Di deadi bodi of di late Omukama of Tooro Kingdom, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, don arrive for Uganda from United States.

President Yoweri Museveni alongside govment officials and family and friends receive di deadi bodi of di 34-year-old king wey arrive for Entebbe Airport on Friday, 4 September.

From Entebbe, di burial programme go move into one carefully planned procession wey intend to allow di pipo of Tooro witness di return of dia king.

Family, friends and officials bin gada for brief prayer for airport bifor di aircraft carry im remains go Uganda.

Di prayers na to ask for safe passage for di late king on im final journey back to di land wey e rule for more dan 30 years.

King Oyo die for Dallas, Texas, on August 27, 2026, afta e battle aggressive brain cancer.

Im death end im reign wey start wen e be only three years old. Dem crown am for 1995 afta di death of im papa, King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, making am di world youngest reigning monarch.

Im final journey from United States come as both Uganda and di city of Dallas dey mourn am. E bin travel go Dallas for medical treatment. During di prayers for di airport, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson express condolences and remember di close relationship between di monarch and di city, wey include one occasion wen e present King Oyo wit key to Dallas.

Sources say di military go use helicopter carry di casket from Entebbe go Kyegegwa District, from wia di remains go begin di final road journey towards Karuzika palace for Fort Portal.

Dem go put di casket on one open, slow-moving carriage, allowing mourners and subjects along di route to pay dia last respects. Afta dat, di kingdom go begin formal nine-day mourning period.

According to di head of di Babiito royal clan, Omusuuga Charles Kamurasi, afta di mourning period, “King Oyo bodi go rest for Karambi Royal Tombs on September 12, 2026”.

If dem no change di date, dem go bury di late King exactly on di day of im coronation. King Oyo bin bicom king on September 12, 1995.

Who be King Oyo

Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV bicom king of Tooro for western Uganda wen e just be three years old for 1995 afta di death of im papa.

Although na elected president and parliament dey rule Uganda, di kontri get plenty traditional kingdoms wey get significant cultural influence even though dem no get political power.

Oyo, wey Guinness World Records list as di world youngest reigning monarch, bin rule ova more dan two million pipo. E be di 13th monarch of di kingdom wey dem establish for di early 19th Century.

Tooro Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki wey announce im death bin call am "immeasurable loss" to di royal family and di pipo of Tooro.

"I call upon all di pipo of Tooro to remain united, calm and prayerful during dis profoundly difficult time," Akiiki tok on Friday. "May His Majesty di King rest in eternal peace."

Di Tooro Kingdom dey follow hereditary system in selecting dia monarch.

Oyo officially no dey married, but Akiiki say "di continuity of di Crown dey settled".

"His Majesty leave behind a Prince as im heir, im identity we go formally reveal for di appropriate time, in accordance wit di traditions and customs of Tooro Kingdom," e tok.

Wen e bicom king for 1995, dem establish one regency, wey include di queen mother, until Oyo turn 18 wen dem do official coronation.

Di young king dey well respected by im pipo and according to one report for di Daily Monitor newspaper, e bin promote causes like youth empowerment, education and climate conservation, and HIV/Aids awareness.

Di kontri largest and most influential traditional institution, di Buganda Kingdom, say dem mourn wit di pipo of Tooro following di death of dia monarch, as dem label am valuable figure to Uganda.

Similarly, di Rwenzururu Kingdom also extend dia condolences to "all di pipo wey dey mourn dis great loss", according to local media reports.

Odas don also pay dia respects to di late king.

Di Federation of Uganda Football Associations, honour King Oyo as "true friend of di beautiful game", and e announce moment of silence bifor di kick-off of all matches until 4 September in memory of im "legacy, love, passion and contribution" to di sport.

Di govment minister Margaret Muhanga describe di mood for di kingdom as "sombre... nobodi dey smile".

Di king bin dey for "di prime of im life", she tok for one video on social media, "as young as e be, e make impact on im kingdom".

Muhanga say dem go plant one million trees for im honour during di mourning period, and wan make neighbouring districts for Tooro to do di same.

Ugandan musician Juliana Kanyomozi call am a "veri dark day for Tooro", for one Instagram post. "Gone too soon. What a loss!!!!"