King Oyo burial budget shoots to cost Shs 2bn

What the report says

The Observer reports that a proposed event-management budget for the funeral and burial of the late Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV is projected to reach about Shs 2 billion once VAT is added. The budget document, dated August 29, 2026 and submitted to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, puts the pre-VAT cost at Shs 1.724 billion, with direct event expenses and an event-management fee making up the total before tax.

According to the paper, the draft covers preparations at several venues linked to the royal send-off, including the airport reception, Buziga Royal Palace, Karambi Tombs, Kabarole Church and Karuziika Royal Palace. Major line items include tents, flooring, LED screens, generators, public-address systems, security, transport, branding, media coverage and printing. The largest single allocation mentioned is Shs 168 million for six LED screens at Karuziika Royal Palace, while Karambi Tombs also carries substantial costs for tents, screens and related services.

The Observer says the document calculates 18 percent VAT that would raise the bill to roughly Shs 2.034 billion, although the grand-total field in the budget is left blank, so the final VAT-inclusive figure is not formally completed. The scale of the spending highlights the logistical complexity of a major royal funeral, including public attendance, media coverage and ceremonial requirements across multiple sites.