KAMPALA — The Government has unveiled an official burial programme for the late King of Tooro, His Royal Highness Rukirabasaija Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, with his remains expected to arrive at Entebbe International Airport on Friday, September 4, 2026.
Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, said Government had adopted a Whole-of-Government approach to ensure the late monarch receives a colourful, befitting and nationally representative official burial.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Thursday, September 3, Babalanda described the late King as a young, iconic, promising and people-oriented monarch whose death had plunged the country into mourning.
“Fellow countrymen and women, as you may recall, the country on Friday, August 28, 2026, received the sombre news of the passing away of a young, iconic, promising and people-oriented Monarch,” Babalanda said.
She said President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s Government had since taken a series of measures to guide the country and the Kingdom of Tooro through the mourning period and ensure a dignified send-off for the late monarch.
Babalanda revealed that during a Cabinet sitting at State House Entebbe on Monday, August 31, chaired by President Museveni, Cabinet paid tribute to the fallen monarch and directed the Prime Minister to coordinate a Whole-of-Government response involving public institutions and other key stakeholders.
On Tuesday, September 1, Parliament received a statement from the Prime Minister and dedicated its sitting to debating and paying tribute to King Oyo, recognising his contribution to the socio-economic transformation of Tooro.
As Parliament paid tribute, the Prime Minister convened and chaired an Inter-Ministerial National Organising Committee (NOC) meeting attended by representatives of the Royal Family and Ministers responsible for Gender and Culture, Presidency, Agriculture, Tourism, Public Service, Foreign Affairs and Internal Affairs.
Babalanda said the NOC was briefed that Cabinet had considered a paper from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development outlining burial arrangements agreed upon with Tooro Kingdom.
She said the Kingdom, working with hospital authorities in Dallas, United States, had initially scheduled the return of the remains for Thursday, September 3, but the programme had since been revised.
The remains will now arrive at Entebbe International Airport on Friday, September 4, at 10:00am.
Babalanda said Government would manage the burial in a coordinated manner, similar to the approach adopted during the burial of the late Emorimor of Teso.
Government outlines burial preparations
The Minister outlined several key areas in which Government has made preparations for the official burial.
Events management: Government has provided logistical support at five key venues — Entebbe International Airport, Karuzika Royal Palace in Tooro, Buziga Royal Residence in Kampala, Karambi Royal Tombs, where the late King will be laid to rest, and St. John’s Cathedral, where the church service will be held. The support includes tents, chairs, mobile toilets, cleaning teams and public address systems.
Feeding: The Office of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), under the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, will provide food for mourners for nine days at Buziga and Karuzika.
Funeral management: A-Plus Funeral Home has been contracted to handle key funeral arrangements, including reception of the remains at the airport, executive funeral vehicles from Nairobi, portraits, condolence books, casket wreaths, the order of service, marble grave construction and works at the Royal Mausoleum. Babalanda said all costs would be met by Government.
Security and protocol: Security arrangements will involve the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Uganda Police Force (UPF), including ceremonial bands, pallbearers, a gun salute, crowd control and counter-terrorism measures.
Palace works: The UPDF Engineers Brigade has undertaken upgrades at Karuzika Royal Palace ahead of the arrival of mourners and dignitaries.
Dignitaries: Protocol arrangements have been made to receive delegations expected from royal families across Uganda and other parts of Africa.
Repatriation: Babalanda said Government had met the medical and repatriation costs for transporting the late King’s remains from Dallas through Nairobi to Entebbe, with the expenses paid by President Museveni through State House.
Health services: The Ministry of Health has organised a health camp to provide treatment for simple ailments among mourners during the mourning period in Tooro.
Babalanda further said security agencies had taken charge of protecting mourners and property, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was working closely with Kenyan authorities to facilitate the smooth transit of the remains through Kenya.
She commended President Museveni, the Prime Minister and other Cabinet members for ensuring a coordinated Government response to the death of the young monarch.
The late King Oyo died on Friday, August 28, 2026, in Dallas, United States, after reigning as the Omukama of Tooro for more than three decades.
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