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HON. ABBAS AGABA; TRIBUTE: Beyond the Crown, A Friend: Remembering King Oyo and the Legacy He Leaves Behind

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It is with a profoundly heavy heart and a deep sense of personal loss that I join the people of Tooro, the Royal Family, Uganda and the African continent in mourning the passing of His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the Omukama of Tooro Kingdom.

For many, His Majesty was a King, a cultural leader and a symbol of Tooro’s rich heritage. For me, he was also a personal friend a friendship I will forever treasure. His passing has therefore touched me not only in my capacity as Secretary General of the Afro-Arab Youth Council, but also as a friend who had the privilege of sharing personal moments with him.

I had the honour of hosting His Majesty twice at my home. Those occasions remain among the memories I will hold closest to my heart. Beyond the crown and the responsibilities that came with his office, I experienced a young King who was warm, gracious, humble and deeply connected to people.

Our interactions reminded me that true leadership is not only about the position one occupies, but also about the character one carries, the people one touches and the values one leaves behind.

His Majesty’s passing is an immense loss to Tooro Kingdom and to Uganda. It is also a loss to a generation that saw in him a symbol of continuity, cultural pride, unity and hope. His reign demonstrated the important place of cultural institutions in preserving our identity while inspiring younger generations to embrace their heritage and contribute meaningfully to society.

As Secretary General of the Afro-Arab Youth Council, I am particularly moved by this loss because our work is founded on the values of peace, unity, cultural understanding, youth empowerment and African solidarity. King Oyo embodied many of these values through his role as a unifying figure and a custodian of the cultural heritage of the people of Tooro.

But today, I choose to remember him beyond his title.

I remember a friend.

I remember the conversations, the warmth, the humility and the moments we shared. I remember opening my home to him and the honour it was to have His Majesty as my guest. Those memories are now precious reminders of a friendship that I wish could have lasted much longer.

Death has taken away a King from his people and a friend from many of us who loved and respected him. Yet it cannot take away the memories he created, the lives he touched or the legacy he leaves behind.

To the Royal Family and the people of Tooro, I extend my deepest condolences. Your loss is immeasurable, and my heart goes out to you during this difficult period of mourning.

To the young people of Tooro and Uganda, I encourage you to preserve the values His Majesty represented — unity, dignity, respect for culture, service to others and responsibility to future generations. Let his memory inspire us to build the peaceful, united and prosperous Africa that our generation deserves.

King Oyo may have left this world, but he will not leave our hearts.

For me personally, I will forever be grateful that I had the privilege not only of knowing His Majesty, but of calling him my friend and welcoming him into my home.

May the Almighty grant the Royal Family strength and comfort, and may He grant the people of Tooro peace during this painful hour.

Rest in eternal peace, my dear friend and Your Majesty.

You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.

The author is the Secretary General
Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC)

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