KAMPALA – The Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, has briefed Parliament on Government’s preparations for the official burial of the late King of Tooro, His Royal Highness Rukirabasaija Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
Babalanda said Government had adopted a Whole-of-Government approach to ensure a colourful, dignified and nationally representative send-off for the late monarch.
King Oyo, described by Government as an iconic, promising and people-oriented leader, died on Friday, August 28, 2026, in Dallas, United States, where he had been receiving treatment. He was 34.
Presenting a statement on behalf of Government, Babalanda told Parliament that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had taken a leading role in the national mourning process and directed Government to organise an official burial.
She said Cabinet, sitting at State House Entebbe on Monday, August 31, 2026, and chaired by President Museveni, paid tribute to the late King and resolved that he be accorded an official burial.
“Under the wise guidance of H.E. the President, the Head of State directed the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister to coordinate a Whole-of-Government approach bringing together the public sector and other critical stakeholders,” Babalanda told Parliament.
The minister also relayed President Museveni’s tribute to the late monarch, in which the President expressed sorrow over his death.
“How unfair life can be! He was orphaned while still young and he has died young,” Museveni said in his tribute issued on August 29.
According to Babalanda, the President also confirmed that Government had supported the King’s medical treatment in Germany and later in the United States.
She told Parliament that the House had earlier received a statement from the Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business on Tuesday, September 1, and held a special sitting during which MPs eulogised the late King and reflected on his contribution to the socio-economic transformation of Tooro.
On the same day, the Prime Minister, acting on a Cabinet directive, convened and chaired a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial National Organising Committee together with representatives of the Tooro Royal Family.
The committee brought together ministers and officials from key sectors, including the ministries responsible for Gender and Culture, the Presidency, Agriculture, Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Public Service, Foreign Affairs and Internal Affairs.
Babalanda said Cabinet had also received a paper from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development detailing preparations agreed upon between Government and the Royal Family.
She said the remains of the late King, which were initially expected to arrive on Thursday, September 3, are now scheduled to arrive at Entebbe International Airport on Friday, September 4, at 10:00am.
Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been coordinating with Kenyan authorities to ensure the smooth transit of the remains from Dallas through Nairobi to Entebbe.
Babalanda said Government’s involvement in the burial arrangements would follow the unified approach previously adopted during official funerals of other prominent cultural leaders, including the late Emorimori of the Iteso.
She outlined eight key areas that the National Organising Committee had identified as necessary for the King’s official send-off.
Government will provide events management services at five key venues: Entebbe International Airport, Karuzika Royal Palace, Buziga Royal Residency, Karambi Royal Tombs and St. John’s Cathedral. The arrangements will include tents, chairs, mobile toilets and public address systems.
The Office of the Chief of Defence Forces, under the Ministry of Defence, will coordinate the feeding of mourners for nine days at Buziga and Karuzika.
Government has also engaged A-Plus Funeral Home to manage funeral arrangements, including the airport reception, executive vehicles from Nairobi, portraits, condolence books, wreaths, the order of service, construction of a marble grave and the Royal Mausoleum.
Babalanda said all costs related to the funeral arrangements would be met by Government.
Security and protocol arrangements will involve the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and Uganda Police Force, including military and police bands, pallbearers, a gun salute and crowd management.
The UPDF Engineers Brigade has also been assigned to undertake upgrades at Karuzika Royal Palace ahead of the burial.
Government is further preparing protocol arrangements for expected delegations from royal families and cultural institutions within Uganda and other parts of Africa.
According to the minister, Government has met the late King’s medical bills and all costs related to the repatriation of his remains from Dallas through Nairobi to Entebbe, with the expenses covered through State House on the directive of the President.
The Ministry of Health will also organise a health camp in Tooro to provide medical services to mourners during the burial period.
Babalanda assured Parliament that security agencies had taken charge of arrangements to ensure the safety of mourners and other participants throughout the official programme.
She said the official nine-day mourning period would formally begin after the late King’s body arrives at Karuzika Royal Palace, where the Tooro Kingdom and Government will continue with the final arrangements for his burial.
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