Government Announces Official Burial Programme of King Oyo, Remains Arrive Friday 

KAMPALA – The Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, has said Government has put in place a Whole-of-Government approach to accord the late King of Tooro a colourful, befitting and nationally representative official burial.

Addressing the press on Thursday 3rd September 2026, at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, Minister Babalanda gave an update on the official burial arrangements for His Royal Highness Rukirabasaija Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who died on Friday 28th August 2026 in Dallas, USA.

“Fellow Country Men and Women, as you may recall the Country on Friday 28th August 2026 received the sombre news on the passing away of a young, iconic, promising and people oriented Monarch,” Babalanda said.

She said since then, Government under the able, firm and wise leadership of H.E Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has taken up this national sad moment and offered a series of actions to lead Ugandans and well-wishers through this mourning period.

The Minister revealed that on Monday 31st August 2026, Cabinet sitting at State House Entebbe and chaired by the President extended long and earnest eulogies to the fallen Monarch and directed the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister to coordinate a Whole-of-Government approach involving the public sector and other critical stakeholders.

On Tuesday 1st September 2026, Parliament received a statement from the Prime Minister and dedicated its sitting to debate, pay tribute and eulogize the immense contribution of the late Monarch towards the socio-economic transformation of Tooro.

Babalanda noted that while Parliament was paying tribute, the Prime Minister convened and chaired an Inter-Ministerial National Organising Committee (NOC) meeting together with Representatives of the Royal Family and Ministers for Gender and Culture, Presidency, Agriculture, Tourism, Public Service, Foreign Affairs and Internal Affairs.

According to Babalanda, the NOC was briefed that Cabinet had received a paper from the Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Development on arrangements agreed upon with Tooro Kingdom, and that the Kingdom working with hospital authorities in Dallas had tentatively set Thursday 3rd September for the arrival of the remains, but the remains will now be received at Entebbe International Airport tomorrow Friday 4th September 2026 at 10:00am.

She said Government will handle the burial in unison as was done for the late Emorimori of Teso.

On the key requirements for a decent send-off, Babalanda listed:

Events Management: Logistics at 5 venues – Entebbe Airport, Karuzika Royal Palace for mourners in Tooro, Buziga Royal Residency for mourners in Kampala, Karambi Royal Tombs for final resting, and St. John’s Cathedral for the church service. Government has provided tents, chairs, mobile toilets, cleaning teams and public address systems.

Feeding: Food for mourners for 9 days, being provided by the Office of the CDF under Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs at Buziga and Karuzika.

Funeral Management: Handled by A-Plus Funeral Home including airport reception, hire of executive funeral vehicles from Nairobi, portraits, condolence books, casket wreaths, order of service, marble grave construction and Royal Mausoleum. All costs covered by Government.

Security and Protocol: UPDF and UPF bands, pall bearers, gun salute, crowd control and counter-terrorism.

Palace Works: Upgrades at Karuzika Palace by UPDF Engineers Brigade.

Dignitaries: Protocol for expected delegations from royal families within Uganda and Africa.

Repatriation: Government has met all medical bills and repatriation costs from Dallas to Nairobi to Entebbe, paid by the President through State House.

Health Camp: Ministry of Health has arranged a health camp for simple ailments during mourning in Tooro.

Babalanda said security agencies have taken charge of security of mourners and property, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in close contact with Kenyan authorities to ensure smooth transit of the remains.

She commended President Museveni, the Prime Minister and colleague Ministers for ensuring a coordinated Government response.