Ugandan Flags To Fly At Half Mast For King Oyo

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has directed that the late King of Tooro, His Highness Oyo, be accorded an official burial, with national flags flown at half-mast for three days in honour of the deceased monarch.

Museveni gave the directive in a statement he personally signed on Saturday, following the death of King Oyo at the age of 34.

The Ugandan leader expressed condolences to the royal family and the people of Tooro, describing the monarch’s death at such a young age as a major loss to the kingdom and the country.

“How unfair life can be!! He was orphaned while still young and he has died young,” Museveni said.

The President also disclosed that King Oyo had been battling an aggressive form of cancer before his death.

READ ALSO: Aggressive Cancer Killed King Oyo At 34 – Ugandan President, Museveni

“Some months back, Her Royal Highness Kemigisa, Nyinomukama, came to tell me that the Muzzukulu Oyo had cancer that was very aggressive,” he said.

According to Museveni, the Ugandan government supported the late monarch’s medical treatment in Germany and later the United States, where he died.

“The Government supported them to go to Germany and, then, the USA where he died,” he said.

Museveni said King Oyo had demonstrated a willingness to work with both the central and local governments to promote the development of Tooro during his lifetime.

“In the short life on earth, he had shown that he had potential of working well with the Central and Local Governments to develop Tooro. What a loss to Tooro and Uganda,” he said.

The President also disclosed that the late monarch left behind a young male heir, who would be presented to the public at an appropriate time.

He said King Oyo had worked well with the central government and avoided using cultural institutions for sectarian purposes.

Museveni said this approach should serve as an example to other cultural leaders in the country.

“It would be good if all the Cultural leaders understood the importance of this,” he said.

Directing the arrangements for the monarch’s burial, Museveni said the official mourning period would cover the day before the burial, the burial day and the day after.

“I direct that H.H. Oyo be given an official burial and, for three days, all the flags fly at half-mast,” he said.

“May his soul rest in eternal peace.”