Environmentalists Eulogise King Oyo at River Rwizi Run

What the report says

Environmentalists and local leaders gathered in Mbarara for the annual River Rwizi Run, where they paid tribute to the late Tooro monarch, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. According to Nile Post, the event was used to highlight his support for environmental conservation, tree planting, tourism and wildlife protection, while also drawing attention to efforts to restore the degraded River Rwizi catchment.

The report said participants used the eco-marathon to reflect on the river’s declining water levels and the wider pressure on communities and ecosystems that rely on the water source. WWF Uganda Country Director Ivan Tumuhimbise told the gathering that more than 700 hectares of degraded land have been restored across Mbarara, Rwampara and Sheema, and described the work as evidence that coordinated conservation can produce recovery when sustained.

Mbarara City Mayor Robert Kakyebezi also praised the late king’s environmental example, saying he encouraged tree planting and the protection of rivers and swamps. Local leaders at the event urged stronger political commitment and broader cooperation to protect River Rwizi, stressing that restoration cannot be left to a few actors alone.

The tribute placed King Oyo’s legacy within a broader conservation drive in south-western Uganda. More generally, River Rwizi has long been regarded as a vital water source for the region, so efforts to restore it carry significance for livelihoods, biodiversity and long-term water security.