Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1341 EAT on Monday 14 September 2026

The Queen Mother has paid tribute to the late King of Tooro, describing his life and reign as historic and thanking God for the legacy he leaves behind.

Speaking during the burial ceremony, she said September 12 held special significance as the day the King ascended to the throne and the day he was laid to rest.

“Today, the 12th, is the day the King took the throne, and the same day we lay him to rest. We thank God because our King was born, lived and made history. Even in his death, he died in history,” she said.

She added that everything the King did was special, from his birth to his death, and that he had shown Uganda and Tooro the significance of kingship.

The Queen Mother thanked the Archbishop, the Bishop and the clergy for presiding over what she described as an honourable function.

She also recognised the Nnabagereka and members of the Buganda Kingdom, the Tooro Prime Minister, the royal family, relatives and friends for their support during the mourning period.

In a special tribute, she recognised the Deputy Speaker, whom she described as a close friend of the late King and a frequent visitor to their home. She also acknowledged Minister Frank Tumwebaze.

The Queen Mother further thanked Princess Nsemere and Phillip for taking care of Amooti, whom she described as a father figure who had cared for her.

“I called him Baaba because he was more or less my father. He took care of me. Thank you for taking care of the King when he was not well,” she said.

The Queen Mother said the late King remained courageous despite his illness, praising his strength and resilience during his final days.

She also thanked Gen. Henry Tumukunde, whom she described as a mediator who helped reconcile members of the Tooro Kingdom during disagreements.

“I also thank Gen. Henry Tumukunde, who was our mediator here in Tooro when we had misunderstandings. He brought us together, and we thank him,” she said.

The Queen Mother further recognised pastors in Tooro and Kampala, as well as others who prayed for the royal family during the difficult period.

She paid special tribute to President Yoweri Museveni, describing him as a father figure who supported the late King throughout his life, including during his education and illness.

“He is not just a president. He was a father. He did a wonderful job from when our King was growing. He raised him, sent him to school and took care of him when he was sick,” she said.

She also thanked the President for ensuring the King received a befitting send-off in Kampala.

“Thank you, Mzee,” she said.

The Queen Mother then turned her attention to her son, saying: “I want to speak about my son.”

Queen Mother Calls for Unity as Tooro Mourns Late King Oyo

The Queen Mother has called on the people of Tooro to maintain peace and unity as they mourn the late King Oyo, urging them to preserve the legacy of a monarch she described as peaceful, kind and courageous.

Speaking during the burial ceremony, she recounted how she had prayed for God to spare the King’s life, even asking to die in his place.

“I asked God to take me first. I begged Him to take me first when I was in that hospital,” she said.

She recalled telling God that the King had been too good to Him to die before her, but that her prayers were not answered.

The Queen Mother described the late King as a man of faith who had a deep understanding of scripture and played an important role in strengthening the family’s spiritual life.

She said she had taught him to pray when he was young, but as he grew older, he became the one teaching her how to pray.

“We called him our pastor. He studied scriptures and taught us scriptures. He often made us recite verses, and he would laugh at us,” she said.

Despite the pain of losing him, the Queen Mother said the family had accepted that death was beyond their control.

“He was a peaceful man. He was jolly and kind. God wished to take him. But he was a good man, our King. We are left with pain, but you cannot argue with God,” she said.

Queen Mother Thanks Tooro for Supporting the Royal Family

The Queen Mother thanked the people of Tooro for the love and support they showed the late King during the nine days of mourning at the palace.

She said the large crowds that gathered to mourn the King demonstrated the deep affection people had for him.

“I thank the people of Tooro. You loved your King. We spent nine days here. People came here and cried and filled the palace with love,” she said.

She urged the people to preserve the peace and unity witnessed during the mourning period, saying the late King had always valued peaceful coexistence.

She also thanked people from across Uganda and around the world who mourned the King, including his friends who were unable to attend the burial.

The Queen Mother expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni and the government for their support, as well as representatives from other kingdoms who attended the ceremony.

She called for continued love and cooperation among the different communities.

Royal Family Members and Officials Recognised

The Queen Mother paid tribute to members of the royal family, particularly the King’s aunties, whom she said had shown him love and care.

She recognised Muka Joy, Bagaya Akiiki, Rose Kijumba and Musuuga Kamurasi for their contribution to the King’s upbringing and welfare.

She praised them for demonstrating love despite historical disagreements over the throne among members of the Babiito royal clan.

The Queen Mother also thanked Tooro Prime Minister Armstrong for his love and support for the late King.

She said Princess Nsemere had clarified that when the King fell sick, he was concerned that informing the Prime Minister about his illness would make him emotional.

The Queen Mother further explained that the King had continued studying online during periods when he felt better, despite his illness.

She encouraged Armstrong to remain strong, saying the message he delivered during the mourning period reflected the late King’s wishes.

Queen Mother Appeals for Responsible Media Coverage

The Queen Mother thanked the media for covering the mourning and burial ceremonies, while urging journalists and social media users to report responsibly.

She acknowledged the growing influence of social media but appealed to the public to avoid spreading information that could hurt the royal family.

“I thank the media, you also did a good job. Nowadays there is social media, but I hope you do better and not speak ill of us,” she said.

She also thanked the royal guards and palace staff for protecting and caring for the King, asking God to bless them for their service.

The Queen Mother recognised Bishop Robin Kisembo for supporting and praying for the royal family, as well as her church in Kitumba.

Call to Preserve King Oyo’s Legacy

In her closing remarks, the Queen Mother urged the people of Tooro to love one another and build on the legacy left by their late King.

She said the King had been an example of peace and love, warning against actions that could undermine his achievements.

“I wish now to call upon the people of Tooro to love each other. Our King was a good example. Let us not ruin what he did. The world knows about him. Love him as he did love you. Let us build our nation,” she said.

She concluded by referring the congregation to Psalm 27, a biblical passage that speaks of faith and trust in God during difficult times.

-Pulse

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