Social media platforms have been flooded with messages of grief and condolences following the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the King of Tooro.
The news of the King’s death began circulating widely on social media yesterday evening, with several accounts on X reporting his death at around 8pm.
The Tooro Kingdom official social media accounts initially dismissed reports of the King’s death, saying he was in critical condition. However, at around 10pm, the Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, officially confirmed the death of the Omukama.
Soon after the confirmation, messages of condolence poured in from prominent Ugandans and institutions across different social media platforms.
Among those who mourned the King were the Chief of Defence Forces, the Prime Minister of the Buganda Kingdom, the Kyabazinga of Busoga, politicians, cultural leaders and thousands of ordinary Ugandans.
Across X, Facebook, Instagram and other platforms, photographs and memories of the late King dominated timelines as Ugandans expressed shock and sorrow over his death.
For many social media users, the passing of King Oyo was difficult to believe, with several describing the news as a painful loss not only for the people of Tooro but for Uganda as a whole.
Young people from Uganda and beyond also joined the outpouring of grief, applauding the late King for his leadership and his contribution to promoting sports, tourism and the cultural heritage of Tooro.
Many Ugandans used the platforms to send messages of solidarity to the people of Tooro, calling for unity and calm as the Kingdom comes to terms with the loss of its cultural leader.
The overwhelming online response has underscored the deep affection and admiration many people had for King Oyo, whose reign made him one of Uganda’s most recognised cultural figures.
