By: WooNam News
FORT PORTAL, September 12, 2026 — A high-powered delegation from Kaal Ker Kwaro Jonam (KKKJ), led by Jakom His Majesty Rwoth Opar Freddy Kuba IV, has joined thousands of mourners in Tooro Kingdom to bid farewell to the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
The Jonam cultural leaders travelled to Fort Portal to participate in the final mourning and burial ceremonies for the Tooro monarch, who died on August 27, 2026, aged 34, following a battle with aggressive brain cancer.
Omukama Oyo was laid to rest at the Karambi Royal Tombs on Saturday, September 12, in a ceremony that brought together members of the royal family, government officials, religious leaders and cultural institutions from across Uganda.
Jonam Leaders Pay Respect
The Kaal Ker Kwaro Jonam delegation included chiefs and other cultural representatives who joined the Tooro Kingdom community during the final rites.
Their participation was seen as a symbol of solidarity between Uganda’s cultural institutions and a demonstration of mutual respect among traditional leaders.
The delegation had earlier been received through traditional protocol at Karuziika Palace during the mourning period before joining the final burial ceremonies.
For KKKJ, the occasion was not only about paying respects to the late Omukama but also about strengthening cultural ties with Tooro Kingdom and other traditional institutions.
Thousands Gather to Honour Omukama Oyo
The funeral service was held at St. John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal, led by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu.
The ceremony attracted several prominent Ugandan leaders and members of the royal family, including:
- Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, representing President Yoweri Museveni as Chief Mourner.
- Nnaabagereka of Buganda Her Royal Highness Sylvia Nagginda Luswata
- Katikkiro of Buganda Rt. Hon. Charles Peter Mayiga
- Tooro Queen Mother Best Kemigisa
- Princess Ruth Nsemere Komuntale, sister of the late Omukama
- Omusuuga Charles Kamurasi, head of the Babiito royal clan
- Government ministers and Members of Parliament
- Religious leaders
- Representatives of cultural institutions from across Uganda
Thousands of Batooro also turned up to pay their final respects, with many dressed in traditional attire and bark cloth.
Six-Kilometre Procession to the Royal Tombs
Following the funeral service, mourners joined a procession covering approximately six kilometres from St. John’s Cathedral to the Karambi Royal Tombs.
The procession moved through the streets of Fort Portal as residents and mourners lined the route to witness the historic farewell.
At Karambi, Omukama Oyo was interred alongside his ancestors in accordance with Tooro royal traditions.
A Monarch Who Took the Throne as a Child
Omukama Oyo’s story is one of the most remarkable in Uganda’s modern cultural history.
He became Omukama of Tooro in 1995 at just three years old, following the death of his father, Omukama Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III. His coronation made him one of the world’s youngest reigning monarchs.
For more than three decades, he carried the responsibilities of the Tooro throne, growing from a child monarch into an adult cultural leader.
He was associated with causes including health, youth empowerment, environmental conservation and cultural preservation, while also participating in efforts to strengthen cooperation among Uganda’s traditional institutions.
Jonam-Tooro Cultural Solidarity
The presence of Rwoth Opar Freddy Kuba IV and the Kaal Ker Kwaro Jonam delegation added a significant cultural dimension to the funeral.
Jonam and Tooro are among Uganda’s traditional communities with strong cultural identities and institutions. The participation of Jonam cultural leaders in the burial demonstrated how moments of national mourning can bring different cultural communities together.
For Kaal Ker Kwaro Jonam, the journey to Fort Portal represented more than a funeral visit. It was also an opportunity to affirm mutual respect, cultural solidarity and cooperation among Uganda’s traditional institutions.
As Tooro mourns the passing of its king, the participation of cultural leaders from Jonam and other parts of Uganda has highlighted the continuing role of traditional institutions in preserving heritage and strengthening social unity.
Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV leaves behind a legacy that began when he ascended the throne as a three-year-old and continued through more than three decades of service to Tooro.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
