Remember my brother, not just the King — Komuntale pays tribute to Oyo

What the report says

Princess Ruth Komuntale used her brother King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV’s funeral service in Tooro to remember him as a person rather than only as a monarch. In remarks reported by Sqoop Uganda, she described him as quiet, deeply religious, curious and devoted to his family, saying that his role on the throne did not erase the more private side of who he was.

Komuntale said Oyo, who became king as a child, remained committed to learning, prayer and family life. She also said she took comfort in believing he was no longer suffering after a prolonged illness. Her comments offered some explanation for why details about his condition were not widely shared while he was ill.

The article says Komuntale defended Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire against criticism for not giving public health updates, saying some people around the king did not know the full extent of the illness because Oyo had chosen to keep it private. She added that he had hoped to recover and did not want to alarm his subjects.

Sqoop Uganda reported that Oyo died in Dallas on August 27 from angiosarcoma, an aggressive cancer, and that his family disclosed the cause of death to mourners before burial at the Karambi Royal Tombs. The report also places the tribute amid wider attention on Tooro’s succession, though Komuntale and Queen Mother Best Kemigisa reportedly urged unity and peace rather than discussing the dispute directly.