I begged God to take me instead — Queen Mother Kemigisa

What the report says

Queen Mother Best Kemigisa has spoken publicly about the emotional toll of watching her son, Tooro’s late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV, struggle with illness. According to Sqoop Uganda, she told mourners that, as her son’s condition worsened, she prayed for God to take her instead. She later said she came to accept his death as God’s will.

Kemigisa made the remarks during Oyo’s funeral service, which marked the end of Tooro’s official nine-day mourning period and was led by Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu. Her tribute came as the kingdom continues to grapple with public debate over succession, a subject the Queen Mother did not directly enter.

Instead, she called on Tooro’s royal family and the wider public to preserve unity and peace, saying the mourning period had been calm and asking people not to let disputes damage the king’s legacy. She also urged restraint in online discussions about the royal family, including on social media platforms where opinions have spread widely.

Sqoop Uganda reported that Kemigisa also reflected on earlier losses in her family, including the death of her husband, King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, and her daughter, Princess Celia Komukyeya. She said Oyo’s birth and death both marked significant moments for Tooro and Uganda, underscoring his historic role in the kingdom.