FORT PORTAL — Secretary General of the Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC), Hon. Dr. Abbas Agaba, has paid tribute to the late Omukama of Tooro, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, describing him as a humble cultural leader, a symbol of youthful leadership and, above all, a dear personal friend.
Dr. Agaba said King Oyo’s death had left him with “profound personal sorrow,” recalling the personal friendship they shared and the late King’s visits to his home.
“For me, this is not simply the loss of a King. It is the loss of a friend,” Dr. Agaba said in his eulogy delivered at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal on Friday 11th September, 2026.
He revealed that King Oyo had visited his home twice, describing the encounters as among the memories he would cherish for the rest of his life.
“His Majesty was my personal friend, and I will forever treasure the moments we shared. He visited my home twice, and those visits remain among the memories I will hold closest to my heart,” he said.
Dr. Agaba said that beyond his royal title and responsibilities, King Oyo was a humble, warm and approachable person whose interactions were characterised by friendship, mutual respect and genuine warmth.
He described the late monarch as a leader who carried himself with humility, calmness, graciousness and dignity, qualities that, he said, earned him admiration beyond the borders of Tooro Kingdom.
A symbol of youth leadership
As Secretary General of the AAYC, Dr. Agaba said King Oyo’s legacy was particularly significant to young people because he demonstrated that age should not be a barrier to leadership, service and responsibility.
“King Oyo represented a generation of young leaders who demonstrated that age should never be a limitation to leadership, service or responsibility,” he said.
Dr. Agaba noted that King Oyo assumed the enormous responsibility of leading Tooro from a very young age, but carried out the role with commitment and a strong sense of duty.
He said the late King’s life demonstrated the capacity of young people to occupy positions of responsibility while preserving culture, providing leadership and contributing to the development of society.
“His life demonstrated that young people can occupy positions of responsibility, preserve heritage and culture, provide leadership and contribute meaningfully to the development of society,” Dr. Agaba said.
He further described King Oyo as a bridge between Tooro’s cultural heritage and the aspirations of a modern generation.
“He was not only a custodian of the rich heritage of Tooro; he was also a bridge between tradition and the aspirations of a modern generation,” he said.
‘A profound void’
Dr. Agaba said the King’s death had created a profound void in Tooro and across Uganda, particularly among cultural leaders and young people who looked up to him.
“His passing therefore leaves a profound void — not only in the hearts of the people of Tooro, but also among Uganda’s cultural leaders, young people and all those who had the privilege of knowing him,” he said.
He extended condolences to the people of Tooro, the Royal Family and Ugandans, urging the country to remember King Oyo for the life he lived, the people he touched and the heritage he represented.
“To the people of Tooro Kingdom, I extend my deepest condolences. You have lost your King, your cultural leader and a symbol of your identity, heritage and unity,” he said.
Dr. Agaba also acknowledged the pain of the Royal Family, saying he could not imagine the difficulty of losing a person who was deeply loved and central to both the family and the wider community.
‘Death cannot erase friendship’
Reflecting on his personal relationship with the late King, Dr. Agaba said he would remember him not only as a monarch but as a friend who shared personal moments with him and his family.
“Personally, I will remember him as a friend. I will remember the King who visited my home, sat with us, shared moments of friendship and left behind memories that I shall cherish for the rest of my life,” he said.
He said King Oyo’s death was a reminder of the fragility of life, but stressed that his passing could not erase the memories and legacy he left behind.
“Death cannot erase friendship. It cannot erase memories. It cannot erase a legacy,” Dr. Agaba said.
He said the AAYC mourned alongside the people of Tooro and the Royal Family, adding that the Council stood with them during the period of grief.
Dr. Agaba concluded his tribute by honouring the late King for the dignity, courage and humility with which he carried the crown.
“Your Majesty, you carried the crown with dignity. You carried the hopes of your people with courage. And you carried yourself, above all, with humility and grace,” he said.
“Farewell, my dear friend. Farewell, Your Majesty. May your memory remain a blessing to us all.”
He prayed for the late King’s soul to rest in eternal peace and for his legacy to continue inspiring future generations.
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