By Rt. Hon. Basaliza Henry Mutegeki Araali
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Interkingdom Relations, Tooro Kingdom
The passing of His Majesty Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has left a void that words can hardly adequately describe.
For the people of Tooro, this is the loss of their King. For Uganda, it is the loss of one of the country's most recognisable traditional leaders. For the Royal Family, it is the loss of a son, brother and father. But for me personally, it is also the loss of a King whom I had the extraordinary privilege of serving closely, a leader who entrusted me with responsibility, a colleague with whom I shared many important moments, and a friend whose memory I shall carry for the rest of my life.
His Majesty passed away on the evening of Thursday, 27 August 2026, at approximately 10:00 p.m., at the age of 34. The official announcement by the Tooro Kingdom described his passing as an immeasurable loss to the Royal Family, the people of Tooro and Uganda.
For those of us who had the privilege of knowing him beyond the public ceremonies and the royal protocols, however, his passing is deeply personal.
The King Who Entrusted Me With Service
My relationship with His Majesty was defined by trust and responsibility.
I will forever be grateful that His Majesty first appointed me as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Tooro Kingdom. That appointment was more than a position, it was an expression of confidence in my abilities and, more importantly, an invitation to serve the Kingdom and its people.
Later, His Majesty elevated me to the position of Deputy Prime Minister.
I regarded that elevation not merely as a promotion, but as a profound personal responsibility. It demonstrated the confidence His Majesty had placed in me and challenged me to give even more of myself to the service of Tooro.
I served under him with a deep sense of duty and loyalty.
Looking back today, I realise that some of the greatest privileges of my public life were not the titles I held, but the opportunity to sit with His Majesty, consult with him, listen to him and work alongside him in pursuit of what we believed was best for the Kingdom.
Beyond the Crown
His Majesty was a King, but to those who worked closely with him, he was much more than the institution he represented.
He was young, approachable, thoughtful and deeply conscious of the responsibility that came with wearing the crown.
King Oyo inherited the throne as a three year old in 1995, following the death of his father, the late Omukama Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III. He consequently grew up under an extraordinary burden of history and expectation.
Yet as he matured, he gradually transformed from the famous young boy King into a monarch who carried himself with dignity and an increasing understanding of his responsibilities.
What impressed me most was his ability to listen.
In our engagements, he did not always seek to dominate the conversation simply because he was King. He listened to different views, asked questions, reflected on advice and when he made a decision, he expected those around him to work towards its implementation.
That quality of leadership earned him my respect.
Our relationship was not merely ceremonial.
We worked together.
As Minister of Foreign Affairs, and later as Deputy Prime Minister, I had the opportunity to represent the Kingdom in various engagements and to contribute to the advancement of its interests.
Those responsibilities brought me into close contact with His Majesty.
There were formal meetings, official functions and diplomatic engagements, but there were also private conversations that will remain among the memories I treasure most.
Some conversations were about the future of the Kingdom. Others were about leadership, development, young people, culture and the responsibilities that come with public service.
In all these engagements, I saw a King who genuinely cared about the future of Tooro.
A Young King With a Long Vision
His Majesty's life was extraordinary from the beginning.
He became King at an age when most children are only beginning to understand the world around them. He carried a crown that had been placed upon his head before he could fully comprehend its meaning.
But with time, he grew into the institution.
He became a symbol of continuity for the Batooro and a bridge between generations.
His reign was marked by an effort to connect the traditions of Tooro with the aspirations of a modern generation. His interests included education, youth empowerment, conservation, health awareness and development, while he also embraced initiatives that promoted the cultural identity of Tooro. His passion for football also made him particularly popular among young people. He instructed me to cordinate the MTN Amasaaza football tournament which has gone along to unite the youth over the years.
This was important because traditional institutions must remain rooted in history while speaking meaningfully to the present and the future.
A King Who Valued Tooro's Place in Uganda
One of the things I admired about His Majesty was his understanding that Tooro was both a proud cultural institution and an important part of Uganda.
He understood the importance of maintaining the dignity and identity of the Kingdom while working constructively with the Government of Uganda and other institutions.
As Minister of Foreign Affairs and later Deputy Prime Minister, I witnessed the importance His Majesty attached to maintaining relationships with other cultural institutions, national leaders and people beyond the borders of Tooro.
He understood that the Kingdom's strength was not measured only by the splendour of the palace or the ceremonies of the throne. It was also measured by the welfare, unity and dignity of its people.
Perhaps the greatest lesson I learnt from His Majesty was that leadership is ultimately about people.
Behind the title Omukama was a human being who had dreams, friendships, interests, hopes and concerns.
He could laugh. He could engage freely. He could be curious. He could be serious when circumstances demanded it.
Those who interacted with him closely will remember not only the King who sat on the throne, but also the person behind the crown.
I will remember his warmth.
I will remember his humility.
I will remember his willingness to listen.
I will remember the confidence he placed in me.
And above all, I will remember the responsibility he gave me to serve the Kingdom he loved.
The Appointment That Changed My Journey
When His Majesty appointed me Minister of Foreign Affairs, he opened a chapter in my life that I will forever consider a great honour.
When he later elevated me to Deputy Prime Minister, he gave me an even greater opportunity to contribute to the affairs of the Kingdom.
These appointments came with responsibility, but they also gave me the opportunity to work closely with a remarkable young monarch.
I often reflect on what it means for a leader to place trust in another person.
Trust cannot be demanded. It has to be earned.
His Majesty gave me that trust and I tried throughout my service to honour it.
Today, as I mourn him, I feel an immense sense of gratitude to Almighty God for having allowed me to know him personally and to serve under his leadership.
A Personal Farewell to My King
Your Majesty, it is difficult to write these words.
Only recently, we were discussing the affairs of our beloved Tooro. Today, I am writing about you in the past tense.
That is the painful reality of death.
But I choose to remember your life rather than only mourn your death.
I choose to remember the young monarch who carried the hopes and aspirations of the Batooro.
I choose to remember the leader who trusted me enough to appoint me Minister of Foreign Affairs and later Deputy Prime Minister.
I choose to remember the conversations, consultations, responsibilities and moments we shared.
And I choose to remember the warmth and dignity with which you carried yourself.
You were my King, but our working relationship gave me the privilege of knowing the person behind the crown.
That is a privilege I shall never take for granted.
Your Legacy Will Continue
The institution of the Omukama is bigger than any individual.
The King may have departed, but the values he represented will continue.
The history of his reign will be told by generations of Batooro who watched him grow from a three year old child on the throne into a young man who carried the responsibilities of kingship.
His legacy will live in the people he inspired, the young people he encouraged, the institutions he strengthened and the generations that will continue to look to the Omukama as a symbol of Tooro's identity and unity.
For me, however, his greatest legacy will always be personal.
It will be the memory of a King who believed in me enough to give me responsibility.
A King who allowed me to serve.
A King with whom I worked closely.
A King whose confidence I valued deeply.
And a King whom I was honoured to call my King.
To the Royal Family and the People of Tooro
At this moment of profound grief, my thoughts and prayers are with the Queen Mother, Her Majesty Best Kemigisa Akiiki, the Royal Family, the Babiito, the Tooro Kingdom leadership and the entire people of Tooro
I also extend my deepest condolences to the people of Uganda and to all those across the world who knew and admired His Majesty.
May the people of Tooro remain united, calm and prayerful, as the Kingdom navigates this painful moment.
The strength of Tooro has always been found in its people, its culture, its history and its unity.
Let us honour His Majesty by preserving that unity.
Rest in Eternal Peace, Your Majesty
My King, I thank you.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Thank you for the trust you placed in me.
Thank you for the responsibilities you entrusted to me.
Thank you for the lessons, the conversations and the memories.
I shall forever remain grateful for the privilege of having served under your reign and for having known you beyond the crown.
Your Majesty, you have rested from your earthly duties, but the institution you served will endure.
Your memory will endure.
Your legacy will endure.
And in the hearts of those who knew and loved you, you will never truly leave us.
May Almighty God receive your soul into eternal glory.
May He comfort the Royal Family.
May He comfort the people of Tooro.
May He grant wisdom and strength to those entrusted with guiding the Kingdom through this difficult period.
May your reign be remembered with honour.
May your memory be a blessing.
Rest in eternal peace, Your Majesty.
Omukama Atulize.
Enkuba Etutire.
R.I.P. His Majesty Dr. Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukiidi IV.
