The remains of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the late King of Tooro, arrived in Uganda on Friday, 4 September 2026, and were formally received by President Yoweri Museveni at Entebbe International Airport.

The aircraft carrying the casket from the United States touched down at the VIP terminal around midday. A solemn reception ceremony followed, attended by Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, members of the Tooro Royal Family, Kingdom officials, Cabinet ministers, religious leaders and other dignitaries.

President Museveni paid his last respects and laid a wreath on the casket, which was draped in the national colours of Uganda and those of the Tooro Kingdom. The Uganda Police mounted a guard of honour as the Police Brass Band played solemn hymns. The President later escorted the royal delegation as the casket was loaded onto a UPDF military helicopter.

The helicopter flew the remains to Humura in Kyegegwa District, where thousands of mourners had gathered. From there, the casket was transferred to a glass-sided hearse for the road procession through Kyenjojo and Kabarole districts to Fort Portal City. Crowds lined sections of the route to catch a final glimpse of their monarch.

Upon arrival at Karuziika Palace, the official seat of the Tooro monarchy, the body was received by the head of the Babiito royal clan, Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi, and other traditional leaders. In accordance with Tooro custom, the remains will lie in state at the palace throughout the official nine-day mourning period known as okugaragara.

King Oyo died on 27 August 2026 in the United States at the age of 34 after battling an aggressive form of cancer. He had ascended the throne in September 1995 at the age of three following the death of his father, becoming the world’s youngest reigning traditional monarch at the time. He reigned for 31 years.

Burial is scheduled for Saturday, 12 September 2026 — the same date that would have marked the 31st anniversary of his coronation, known as Empango. National flags are to fly at half-mast for three days around the funeral, and the Government has taken responsibility for the official burial arrangements.

The return of the King’s body marks the formal beginning of Tooro’s period of mourning and the final phase of the funeral rites for a monarch whose life and reign left a lasting imprint on the Kingdom and the nation.