The kingdom will begin observing traditional cultural rites following his death.
The Tooro Kingdom has officially declared a nine-day period of mourning following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV, initiating ancient cultural rites, the suspension of royal symbols, and preparations for his final send-off and succession.
King Oyo passed away on Thursday night in the United States after a period of illness. He had reigned over the Tooro Kingdom since 1995, when he ascended the throne as a three-year-old monarch following the death of his father, King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III.
Addressing mourners at the royal palace in Fort Portal at about 11:00 AM on Friday, the head of the royal Babiito clan and uncle to the late monarch, Prince Charles Kamurasi, formally announced the King's passing and urged subjects to remain calm, united, and respectful of cultural norms.
"The nine-day mourning period will also be used to make arrangements for the King's final send-off," Prince Kamurasi said, adding that the exact date of burial was yet to be finalized by the royal family and kingdom authorities.
Mr. Richard Rwabuhinga, the chairman of the funeral organizing committee, confirmed on Friday evening that the nine-day mourning timeline is strictly prescribed by Tooro custom whenever a reigning king dies. He noted that preliminary rites commenced early Friday morning under the stewardship of Prince Kamurasi and kingdom ritualists.
"This morning, the head of the Babiito clan, Prince Charles Kamurasi, conducted the initial rituals that commence the mourning time. In Tooro, when we lose a King, we mourn for nine days," Mr. Rwabuhinga said.
As part of the centuries-old tradition, ritualists turned the royal drum—the Engoma—upside down to signify the end of the monarch's reign. Concurrently, members of the Babiito clan gathered at the main entrance of the Fort Portal palace to sound a ceremonial alarm, officially announcing the King's demise to the public.
"This marks the end of the era of a King, of a reigning King," Mr. Rwabuhinga explained regarding the inverted drum ritual.
Throughout the nine-day period, several public symbols of the monarch’s authority will be systematically altered or suspended. The Tooro Kingdom anthem will fall silent across all official functions and will only resume after a new king is enthroned. Furthermore, all kingdom flags have been ordered to fly at half-mast on public buildings and official grounds.
Kingdom authorities are also covering all representations of the lion—a central emblem of Tooro royal authority—located at the Fort Portal city centre roundabout, palace entrances, and administrative sites.
"The lion, which is a major symbol of authority for the King, will be covered in the city centre, at the entrance of the palace, and all these other areas, because the lion has gone silent," Mr. Rwabuhinga said. "The covering of the lion symbolises the absence of the King's authority following his death."
He added that the lion symbols will remain covered until the Babiito clan completes the succession process and officially proclaims the next king.
The newly constituted funeral organizing committee will convene daily during the mourning period to coordinate logistics, alongside expected support from the National Organising Committee. Daily ecumenical evening prayer services are scheduled to begin on Saturday at the royal palace.
Mr. Rwabuhinga appealed to the subjects of Tooro and well-wishers across the country to participate peacefully in the mourning activities, comfort the royal family, and join together to give the late monarch a fitting send-off.
