Singer Shakira Shakiraa reveals how she became friends with King Oyo

What the report says

Ugandan musician Shakira Shakiraa has explained how she became acquainted with the late King of Tooro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, saying the relationship began in an unexpected way at a gym. According to Sqoop Uganda, she described a chance encounter involving a faulty exercise machine, after which the king helped her and the two began greeting each other before their interactions grew into a friendship.

Shakira said their connection was based on repeated gym meetings and that she also knew the Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa. She shared the story after the king’s death, as many Ugandans mourned him, but her remarks drew scrutiny on social media. Some users questioned whether she was overstating the closeness of the relationship, while others suggested she was trying to attach herself to his legacy.

The singer rejected those claims, saying she was only answering questions about a personal memory and had not sought publicity from the king’s name. She said she is focused on her businesses rather than online attention. The episode reflects how public figures in Uganda can face intense scrutiny when speaking about private connections to prominent cultural leaders, especially after a death when memories and reputations are being reassessed.