The body of Uganda’s King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest reigning monarch, has been returned to the country ahead of his burial on September 12.
King Oyo died in the United States last week at the age of 34 after receiving treatment for an aggressive form of cancer.His remains arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Friday, where President Yoweri Museveni was among the dignitaries who received the casket.
The return marks the start of the Tooro Kingdom’s official nine-day mourning period.
The king’s body will lie in state at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal, where members of the public will be allowed to pay their respects. Daily evening prayers will also be held during the mourning period.
King Oyo ascended the Tooro throne in 1995 at the age of three following the death of his father and was formally crowned when he turned 18 in 2010.
He became the 13th monarch of the kingdom, which was founded in the early 19th century and has more than two million people.
Although Uganda is governed by an elected president and parliament, its traditional kingdoms retain significant cultural influence.
The burial is scheduled for September 12, the same day the king had hoped to celebrate the anniversary of his coronation through the annual Empango festival.
A church funeral service will be held first, after which his body will be carried in a traditional procession to the Karambi Royal Tombs for burial by 14:00 local time, in line with Tooro tradition that kings are not buried in the evening.
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