By Aggrey Baba
The late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru will make one final journey through his Kingdom, with his body set to be placed on an open carrier at Kyegegwa to allow his subjects to line the route and bid farewell before he is taken to Karuziika Palace.
The arrangement is contained in the programme released by Tooro Kingdom ahead of the return of the remains of the 34-year-old monarch, whose death has plunged the entire country into mourning.
Unlike a private transfer of the body directly to the royal palace, the programme provides for a public journey from Kyegegwa towards Fort Portal City, giving mourners along the route an opportunity to see their fallen King and pay last respects.
The body is expected to arrive at Entebbe International Airport on Friday, September 4, 2026, at approximately 10am.
After the ceremonies at Entebbe, where the president of the Repubulic of Uganda is expected to persinally receive the body, the remains will be flown by helicopter to Kyegegwa District, from where the public procession towards Karuziika Palace will begin.
The choice of Kyegegwa as the point where Oyo’s final road journey begins could give thousands of Batooro not able to travel to Entebbe an opportunity to participate in the homecoming.
As the procession moves towards Karuziika palace, the seat of the Tooro Kingdom, people along the route are expected to gather and pay their final respects to the Omukama who ascended the throne as a 3-year-old in 1995 and reigned for 31 years.
The Kingdom has also issued a strong cultural reminder ahead of the nine-day mourning period, asking everyone coming to receive the King at Entebbe, Kyegegwa, Karuziika and other locations to observe traditional dress.
Men are expected to wear kanzu and bark cloth, while women are expected to wear suuka. The directive also applies to Abanyamirwa (mourners) and all members of the Kingdom. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
