The late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has been laid to rest at the Tooro Royal Tombs, bringing an end to a tense standoff that had overshadowed the final stage of his funeral.
Reports indicate the burial proceeded after intervention from President Yoweri Museveni through Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa and Minister Gen. Tumukunde, who are said to have engaged the royal family amid the impasse.
The burial took place under heavy security, with UPDF soldiers deployed around the royal burial grounds as preparations for the final rites continued.
The proceedings took another dramatic turn with reports that Queen Mother Best Kemigisa and Princess Komuntale remained inside a vehicle while the burial was taking place.
Despite the tensions surrounding the ceremony, King Oyo was ultimately accorded a military farewell, including a seven-gun salute as part of the final honours paid to the late monarch.
King Oyo died at the age of 34, leaving Tooro Kingdom mourning the loss of a monarch who had reigned for decades.
His death has also been followed by a succession dispute that has continued to dominate affairs within the kingdom, adding another layer of tension to an already closely watched royal transition.
The burial now marks the final farewell to King Oyo at the Tooro Royal Tombs, after a funeral period that became as much about the kingdom’s internal tensions as it was about mourning its late king.