The body of the late Tooro King, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, is expected to return to Uganda this morning, September 4, 2026, setting in motion nine days of mourning and funeral rites before his burial on September 12.
The King, who died in the United States on August 27 at the age of 34, will be laid to rest at the Karambi Royal Tombs, also known as Amagasani, bringing to an end a reign that lasted nearly 31 years.
From Entebbe to Tooro
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, the late King’s body will be flown to Kyegegwa Airstrip.
There will be no public ceremony at the airstrip. Instead, the casket will be transferred directly into a hearse before beginning the journey to Fort Portal.
The hearse will travel by road from Kyegegwa to Karuziika Palace, where the King’s body is expected to arrive on Friday evening.
Although the procession will not make any scheduled stops, members of the public have been allowed to line the route and pay their respects as the hearse passes.
The convoy will slow down while passing through towns to allow mourners to catch a final glimpse of the procession.
Police and the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces will provide security and manage the movement of the procession.
On arrival at Karuziika Palace, the body will be received in accordance with Tooro Kingdom traditions, led by Omusuuga Charles Kamurasi Akiiki and other Tooro clan leaders.
Nine Days of Mourning at Karuziika Palace
From September 4 until September 12, the late King’s body will lie in state at Karuziika Palace.
Members of the public will be allowed to visit the palace and pay their final respects, while prayers will be held every evening throughout the mourning period.
The mourning programme will also give subjects from Tooro Kingdom’s nine districts and various counties, known as Masaza, an opportunity to visit the palace on their designated days.
September 12: King Oyo’s Final Journey
King Oyo will be buried on Saturday, September 12, a date that would have marked the 31st anniversary of his coronation.
The final day of the funeral programme will begin at St John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal.
All ordinary mourners will be required to take their seats by 8 a.m. After that time, access will be reserved for invited guests and VIPs.
The final church service will begin at 9 a.m. and is expected to end at noon.
After the service, the funeral procession will leave St John’s Cathedral for the Karambi Royal Tombs, where the King will be laid to rest.
Mourners will escort the body on foot from the cathedral to the royal burial grounds.
The burial rituals are scheduled to take place between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., with the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces expected to accord the late King a gun salute during the ceremony.
According to Tooro Kingdom officials, tradition does not allow a king to be buried in the evening.
King Oyo ascended the throne in 1995 at the age of three, becoming one of the youngest reigning monarchs in the world. His burial on September 12 will bring to a close nearly three decades of his reign as the Omukama of Tooro.
