Uganda: Environmentalists Eulogise King Oyo At River Rwizi Run

What the report says

Environmental conservationists and local officials gathered in Mbarara for the annual River Rwizi Run, an eco-marathon intended to build public support for restoring the degraded River Rwizi catchment in south-western Uganda. The event, reported by Nile Post and distributed by AllAfrica, also served as a moment to reflect on the environmental legacy of the late Tooro monarch, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who was praised by participants as a supporter of conservation, tourism and wildlife protection.

WWF Uganda Country Director Ivan Tumuhimbise said restoration work has already begun to show results, citing the recovery of more than 700 hectares of degraded land across Mbarara, Rwampara and Sheema districts. His remarks framed the run as part of a broader effort to revive a river system that has seen declining water levels over the years, raising concerns for communities and ecosystems that rely on it.

Mbarara City Mayor Robert Kakyebezi also used the occasion to commend the late king’s environmental advocacy and to call for stronger political commitment to river conservation. He urged leaders to join ongoing efforts to protect trees, wetlands and riverbanks, saying the work cannot depend on one person alone. Participants pledged to continue the restoration campaign and keep the king’s conservation message alive.