By Joseph Mary Buwule
FORT PORTAL, September 12, 2026 — The mother of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, Best Kemigisha, has delivered an emotional farewell to her son, recalling the painful moments she spent praying for his recovery in hospital and questioning why God had taken him instead of her.
Speaking during the final send-off of King Oyo in Fort Portal on Saturday, Kemigisha struggled to contain her emotions as she remembered her son not only as the King of Tooro, but as her beloved child.
She said her farewell was difficult because Oyo had played a unique role in her life and had touched the lives of many people in Uganda and beyond.
Kemigisha thanked the people of Tooro, the Government of Uganda, religious leaders, members of Parliament, ministers, cultural leaders, friends and well-wishers from across the world for standing with the royal family during the period of mourning.
But the most emotional moment of her speech came when she recalled the period when King Oyo was in hospital.
Kemigisha said she prayed to God to spare her son and, instead, take her.
“When I was in that hospital, I said, God, please leave my son alone. Take me fast. I didn’t take him first. I said, ‘Why? Because he was too good to you more than me. Why don’t you take me?’”
She said she could not understand why a young man whom she regarded as exceptionally good had been taken from her and the people of Tooro.
Kemigisha said she even questioned herself, telling God that if she was the bad person, He should take her instead.
She said her prayers, however, did not change the outcome, leaving her to face what she described as one of the most painful moments of her life.
‘Jesus refused’
With tears and visible emotion, Kemigisha said she had hoped that her prayers would result in her son being spared.
“I said, ‘Now, what am I going to do?’”
She said the loss had left a huge gap in the royal family and among the people of Tooro, but expressed gratitude to God for the life her son lived and the people he touched.
The Queen Mother also praised the people who stood by the family during Oyo’s illness and after his death, saying their support had given the family strength during an extremely difficult period.
She thanked religious leaders who prayed for the King and the royal family, mentioning several pastors and other church leaders who joined the family in prayer.
Among those she recognised were Pastor Jackson Ssenyonga, Pastor Robert Kayanja, Pastor Grace Luwaga and other religious leaders who participated in prayers and offered comfort to the family.
A King who belonged to the world
Kemigisha said the magnitude of the mourning demonstrated that King Oyo was not only important to Tooro but had become a figure known and loved far beyond the kingdom.
She noted that people from different parts of Uganda and the international community had joined the mourning.
She thanked the Government of Uganda, ministers and Members of Parliament for supporting the royal family and the Kingdom of Tooro during the difficult period.
The Queen Mother also recognised the people of Tooro for remaining united and showing respect to their King throughout the mourning period.
She particularly praised the Tooro Kingdom leadership, including the Prime Minister of Tooro and other officials who have worked to guide the kingdom during the transition.
‘Be strong, the message was from the King’
Kemigisha also delivered a message of strength to the people of Tooro, urging them to remain united following the death of their King.
She said the message delivered by the Tooro Prime Minister was not merely his personal message, but reflected the spirit and wishes of the late King.
She urged the people of Tooro to remain strong and continue supporting the kingdom.
The Queen Mother also revealed that King Oyo had continued pursuing his education, studying online, describing him as a young man who remained committed to learning and personal development.
Tribute to the royal guards and supporters
Kemigisha thanked the royal guards and others who had remained close to King Oyo and the royal family.
She described their dedication and support as important during the King’s reign and particularly during his final days.
She also recognised members of the royal household and cultural institutions who had worked closely with Oyo.
As she concluded her tribute, Kemigisha spoke directly to the people of Tooro, telling them to remain strong despite the pain of losing their King.
She said the mourning had demonstrated the extraordinary affection people had for Oyo.
For the mother who had prayed for her son’s life to be spared, however, the send-off marked an extraordinarily painful moment.
King Oyo, who ascended to the Tooro throne as a child and became one of Uganda’s most recognisable cultural leaders, was mourned by thousands of people during the final funeral ceremonies in Fort Portal.
His mother said that although the crown had now been laid to rest, the memory of her son would remain with her, the royal family, the people of Tooro and the many people across Uganda and the world who mourned his death.