President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on the people of Tooro to resolve the succession of the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV through peaceful and legal means, urging them to prioritise unity over division.
The President’s message was delivered by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, during the ongoing mourning and burial ceremonies for the late Omukama.
Museveni said Government looks forward to working with the new King in the same manner it worked with King Oyo, whom he described as a good cultural leader who maintained cordial relations with the Central Government.
“When the issue of the new King of the Batooro is solved, we shall be happy to work with the King as we did with His Highness Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV,” Tayebwa said, delivering the President’s message.
Museveni appealed to the Batooro to handle any succession disagreements peacefully and within the law, stressing the importance of maintaining unity within the Kingdom.
He also used the occasion to call for stronger efforts against cancer and other preventable diseases, saying the country should use the loss of King Oyo as an opportunity to strengthen public health awareness and prevention.
“As we mourn His Highness Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, I must call on Ugandans to launch an all-out war against cancer and all the other preventable diseases,” Museveni said.
The President described King Oyo’s death as a significant loss to the country, noting that the late Omukama served as a cultural leader without clashing with the Central Government.
Tayebwa conveyed Museveni’s condolences to the Tooro Kingdom and the royal family, as the Kingdom continues to mourn the 34-year-old monarch who died on August 27 while receiving treatment in the United States.
The President urged the Batooro to preserve the late King’s legacy by ensuring that the succession process is handled peacefully, lawfully and in a spirit of unity.
