Inside King Oyo’s Last Letter To Museveni On His Death Bed, Ugandans Left Emortional

President Yoweri Museveni has revealed that the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV wrote to him on June 15, 2026, expressing gratitude for the appointment of members of the Tooro Kingdom to ministerial positions and discussing issues concerning culture and national heritage.

Museveni disclosed the correspondence while paying tribute to the late monarch, explaining that he only discovered the letter a day after Oyo had been laid to rest.

“I was very sad because, a day after he was buried, I was going through my documents and found a letter he had written to me on 15th June 2026,” Museveni said.

According to the President, Oyo used the letter to appreciate several things, including the appointment of people from the kingdom to serve in government as ministers. Museveni said the discovery gave him another reason to honour the late king and recognise his contribution to the country and the Tooro Kingdom during his reign.

“I want to salute the memory of King Oyo for the wonderful work he did,” he said.

Oyo became the Omukama of Tooro in 1995 at the age of three following the death of his father, Omukama Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III. He remained on the throne for more than three decades before dying in August 2026 at the age of 34 after battling brain cancer.

His death was followed by disagreements within the Tooro royal establishment over the succession process, with competing positions emerging over who should inherit the throne.

Visit UHRC Sponsored Museveni also congratulated Oyo’s successor, Omukama Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, as he prepared to assume the responsibilities of leading the kingdom. The new king’s coronation is taking place in Fort Portal.

“I also congratulate His Highness Nyabongo,” Museveni said.

The President added that he had been following the new monarch’s appearances in the media and expressed confidence in his ability to serve the kingdom.

“I have been watching him on the news and he is a good newsreader. I am sure he will do a good job,” Museveni said.

Beyond the royal succession, Museveni used his remarks to call on cultural leaders across Uganda to take a more active role in promoting responsible family life and strengthening the institution of marriage.

“I call upon our cultural leaders to thoroughly address the institution of marriage and promote responsible family life,” he said.

Museveni argued that traditional marriage practices had helped communities establish clear expectations and maintain social order, urging cultural institutions to revisit aspects of those customs.

“We must go back to our traditional ways of conducting marriages, which provided clarity and helped maintain social order,” he said.

He also connected the discussion to public health concerns, particularly the prevalence of HIV in western Uganda, suggesting that cultural leaders could contribute to efforts to address the problem through their influence over community values and family practices.

The revelation about Oyo’s letter has added a new detail to the late monarch’s final months, highlighting his communication with the President shortly before his death.

Although the letter was written on June 15, 2026, its contents became publicly known only after Oyo’s burial, when Museveni said he discovered it among his documents.

The correspondence also highlighted the relationship between the late king and the national leadership, particularly regarding government appointments and the role of cultural institutions in Uganda’s public life.

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