The late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV battled a rare and aggressive form of cancer for more than a year before his death on 27 August 2026.

Speaking during the funeral service at St John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal on Saturday, Princess Ruth Nsemere Komuntale disclosed that her brother was diagnosed with angiosarcoma in mid-October 2025. By the time the correct diagnosis was made, the cancer had already spread to multiple organs.

Before that, King Oyo had spent over a year seeking medical attention in Uganda for persistent unexplained pain. Doctors initially attributed the discomfort to strenuous exercise or ulcers and recommended physical therapy.

A PET scan at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi finally established the true cause. President Museveni facilitated specialised treatment in Germany, where the King underwent chemotherapy between November 2025 and February 2026 at hospitals in Heidelberg. He was later transferred to the United States and treated at facilities in Dallas, Texas.

Princess Komuntale said the cancer cells initially responded well to treatment and the King regained energy, giving the family hope. However, his condition deteriorated sharply in mid-July 2026.

“The cancer had been in his body just too long,” she said. Despite the decline, the late King continued praying and reading the Bible until his final days. He was pronounced dead at 2pm US time on 27 August after being placed on life support.

The Queen Mother’s representative, Guma Komwiswa, confirmed the same timeline during the service, noting that the King remained communicative until the sudden final deterioration