Uganda: Vice President Jessica Alupo Eulogizes Omukama Oyo

What the report says

Vice President Jessica Alupo has paid tribute to the late Tooro monarch, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, saying his influence on Tooro and Uganda extended well beyond cultural preservation. Speaking at Karuzika Palace in Fort Portal City on Sunday, she joined the royal family and mourners in honoring the king, who died at 34. According to the report from The Independent via AllAfrica, Alupo praised his work in tourism, education, health, environmental conservation, youth empowerment and community development, and said his legacy should be measured by impact rather than years in office.

Alupo also described Oyo, who became king at age three, as a respected young ruler who embodied the hopes of his people and served as a symbol of unity and identity for Tooro. She urged residents to remain peaceful and united during the mourning period, and said his death should prompt reflection on the value of cultural institutions and the preservation of Uganda’s heritage.

Mourners continued to gather at Karuzika Palace to view the body, which arrived there on Friday evening after his death in the United States, where he had been receiving treatment. The palace viewing was open daily with restrictions on photography, and the kingdom spokesperson said it would continue until Friday. The king is scheduled to be buried at the Karambi Royal Tombs on September 12, according to the report.