It is now 26 years since King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Tooro ascended the throne after his father, King Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III passed at the age of 3.
On August 26, 1995, King Oyo Nyimba was made King and set the record of being in “World’s Youngest Monarch.
At the age of 3, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV ascended the throne. According to history, the little boy was made King when his father, King Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III passed. His mother was Queen Best Kemigisa Kaboyo.
Currently, King Oyo Nyimba is 29 years old and he is still the youngest King in the world.
Tooro kingdom Prime Minister Bernand Tungwako has said that all is set for King Oyo Nyimba’s 26th coronation anniversary celebrations traditionally known as Empango.
Unlike before where the city would be a beehive of activity during the second week of the month of September, the celebrations will now be low key due to the covid-19 pandemic.
According to Tungwako, this year’s celebrations will be held virtually at the Kings palace at Karuziika in Fort Portal city.
Mr Tungwako said because of Covid-19 restrictions, they have invited only 200 guests and the king’s subjects will attend the event virtually on different media platforms.t
“We invited President Museveni to be the chief guest, but we are still waiting, and if he doesn’t come, he will delegate another person,” he said.
The cerebrations started yesterday 11th September where the king launched Ekyooto (fireplace) as part of the activities to mark his 26th coronation anniversary and the cerebrations will end today 12th September under the theme “Promotion of culture and Tourism for local development.
The kingdom is also set to hold tourism and cultural festival with support from UNDP and the tourism ministry as a measure to harness African Culture.
He took the reins of power from his regents on April 17, 2010, at a colourful coronation festival (Empango).
This was coincided with his 18th birthday ceremony that involved a number of traditional rituals at Fort Portal town, the headquarters of the kingdom.
The ‘Empango’, which has been an annual event since King Oyo came to the throne more than 15 years ago, has been one of the area’s biggest tourist attractions ever since Oyo became the world’s youngest monarch.
Toro Kingdom is on the slopes of Mount Rwenzori in Western Uganda. It has close to one million people, the Batooro, who venerate the king.