Kaziimba asks Tooro to honour Oyo by backing Arsenal – Sqoop

Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu brought a lighter moment to King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV’s funeral service on Saturday when he reminded mourners of the late monarch’s love for football particularly Uganda Cranes and English football club, Arsenal.

Speaking at St John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal, where he led the funeral service, Archbishop Kaziimba urged Oyo’s subjects to continue supporting the English club as one way of keeping alive a part of the King’s legacy.

The football reference offered a brief moment of relief during an otherwise emotional service as Tooro mourned a monarch whose death has opened a new chapter for the kingdom.

But beneath the light-hearted Arsenal appeal was a more serious message from the Archbishop: that Oyo’s death should not become a source of division.

With the kingdom facing a transition in leadership and debate surrounding the succession, Kaziimba called on Tooro to resist the temptation to turn disagreements into hostility.

“In grief, unity is so key. Grief shouldn’t divide us. It should bind us,” he said.

He cautioned mourners and leaders against making statements in the heat of grief, warning that words can deepen disagreements and ultimately hurt both the memory of the late King and the kingdom he served.

“Let us be careful with words spoken in grief,” Kaziimba said.

Rather than allowing differences to play out through public criticism, the Archbishop encouraged those on opposing sides to sit down and engage each other.

“King Oyo worked so much for peace and unity in this kingdom. One way to uphold his legacy is by ensuring that people hold talks instead of talking about one another,” he preached.

The appeal comes as Tooro prepares for a new monarch following the death of Oyo, who became King at the age of three and went on to reign for nearly 31 years.

Oyo died in Dallas on August 27, 2026, from angiosarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer. Details of his illness and treatment were disclosed to mourners during Saturday’s service ahead of his burial at the Karambi Royal Tombs.

Kaziimba described the loss as one that went beyond the death of an individual, touching the royal family, the institution of the monarchy and the wider Tooro community.

The Archbishop said the circumstances surrounding Oyo’s death were ultimately known only to God, urging the kingdom to focus on preserving the values associated with the late King.

For mourners, however, the Arsenal reference offered a reminder that beyond the crown and the institution he represented, Oyo was also a football fan with personal passions that connected him to ordinary people.

As Tooro prepares to move beyond the mourning period, Kaziimba’s message was that one of the clearest ways to honour Oyo may be to preserve the unity he championed — and perhaps keep cheering for his beloved Arsenal.

“King Oyo loved sports, but above all, he loved Arsenal. If you want to honour his legacy, all of you should support Arsenal.” – @Archbp_COU#NTVNews pic.twitter.com/wivau7gCgP

— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) September 12, 2026