King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The Tooro Kingdom has appealed for calm and prayers for King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV after unverified reports circulated on social media claiming that the monarch had died.
The reports caused anxiety among the Abatooro and well-wishers in Uganda and abroad, prompting the kingdom to issue an official statement clarifying that the 34-year-old King is alive but in critical condition. The statement was issued on Thursday, August 27, 2026, by Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki.
“This is to inform you that His Majesty King Oyo is currently in a critical condition,” the statement reads.
The kingdom, however, did not disclose the nature of the illness, where the King is receiving treatment or the circumstances surrounding his condition.
Instead, the leadership called on the people of Tooro, Ugandans and friends of the Kingdom across the world to pray for the monarch.
“At this difficult and deeply concerning time, we humbly ask the people of Tooro, our friends and well-wishers in Uganda and across the world to keep His Majesty in their thoughts and prayers,” the statement said.
The kingdom also used the announcement to strongly discourage the public from spreading unverified information, saying rumours about the King’s death were causing unnecessary panic.
“We equally appeal to everyone to refrain from speculation, rumours or sharing unverified information regarding His Majesty’s condition,” the statement reads.
“We understand the concern and anxiety that news of this nature will naturally cause, but we ask for calm, restraint and respect for His Majesty and the Royal Family.”
The Prime Minister assured the public that any further information concerning the King’s health would be communicated through official Tooro Kingdom channels, urging the public to rely on those updates rather than social media reports.
“For now, we ask that we stand together in prayer for His Majesty,” the statement added.
The clarification came amid growing public concern over the health of King Oyo, who has been at the helm of the Tooro cultural institution for more than three decades.
King Oyo ascended the throne on September 12, 1995, at just three years old, following the death of his father, King Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III. He later assumed full operational control of the Kingdom after attaining the age of 18 in April 2010.
The latest statement therefore seeks to draw a clear distinction between the confirmed information about the King’s critical condition and the false claims of his death.
With details about his illness and treatment location yet to be released, the Kingdom has asked the public to respect the privacy of the Royal Family and allow the medical team to attend to the monarch.
The Kingdom’s message is consequently one of restraint: King Oyo is critically ill, but reports that he has died remain unconfirmed. Official updates, the statement emphasised, will be issued when appropriate.
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