The Fort Portal City Council has convened a somber, extraordinary session to pay tribute to His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV Amooti, the revered monarch of Tooro Kingdom, whose sudden passing has plunged the nation into deep mourning.
The devastating news was broken on Thursday by the Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister, Hon. Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire, who announced that the King had passed away at 10:00 PM, enveloping the entire country in disbelief and grief.
Born on April 16, 1992, King Oyo historically ascended the throne on September 12, 1995, at the tender age of three, entering the global stage as the world’s youngest reigning monarch.
He passed away at the age of 34, leaving behind a monumental legacy of leadership, cultural preservation, and socio-economic transformation.
During the emotionally charged council sitting convened at Tooro Botanical Gardens, Fort Portal City Mayor, Rev. Kintu Willy Muhanga, delivered a moving eulogy, describing King Oyo as far more than a traditional ruler. He emphasized that the King was a symbol of identity, the true face of Tooro, and a profound source of institutional pride.
The Mayor noted that the King played a pivotal role in helping the world discover Fort Portal as Uganda’s tourism city, adding that the municipality has lost a dedicated patron, a cultural father, and an irreplaceable global ambassador.
According to Mayor Muhanga, the King believed that tourism was fundamentally about restoring the dignity of his people, preserving cultural heritage, protecting the environment, and unlocking global economic opportunities.
The Mayor further observed that His Majesty strategically positioned tourism as a foundational pillar of the Tooro Kingdom Vision 2045, an ambitious development blueprint launched in 2021 during his 26th coronation anniversary.
This vision placed sustainable tourism at the center of community empowerment and livelihood transformation. King Oyo is also celebrated for championing the renowned “Ekyeto Ha Mpango Festival”, an initiative that drastically boosted both domestic and international tourism. In a historic display of leadership and physical endurance, the King led a 10-day “Rwenzori Royal Expedition” in July 2022, successfully summiting Margherita Peak at 5,109 meters above sea level to promote the region’s natural wonders.
The special council session heard multiple testimonies from local leaders who highlighted the King’s hands-on approach to grassroots development.
Hon. Tadeo Balisanga, the councillor representing the elderly, praised King Oyo for driving his subjects toward economic independence by personally distributing coffee, cocoa, and tree seedlings to alleviate poverty.
Fort Portal City Deputy Mayor, Hon. Margaret Kabajwara, observed that the King’s reign was defined by his ability to unite the people of Tooro while relentlessly marketing the tourism city to the international community.
Environmental conservation stood out as another cornerstone of the fallen monarch’s legacy. Hon. Margaret Muhanga Mugisa, the Minister of State for Urban Development, described King Oyo as a visionary leader who passionately desired the restoration of the environment through aggressive tree-planting campaigns.
Minister Muhanga strongly urged the people of Tooro and the leadership of Fort Portal City to honor the King’s memory by emulating his green vision legacy. She called for a renewed commitment to planting trees and greening both the city and the wider Tooro region to combat environmental degradation and climate change issues.
Leaders and subjects alike in council united in grief, praying for the peaceful rest of a magnificent king who dedicated his short but impactful life to his people.