Remember my brother, not just the King — Komuntale pays tribute to Oyo – Sqoop

Princess Ruth Komuntale has asked mourners to remember her late brother, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV, for the man he was away from the throne, describing him as a quiet, deeply religious and curious person who remained devoted to his family.

In an emotional tribute at Oyo’s funeral service on Saturday, Komuntale chose to speak about her brother rather than the monarch at the centre of Tooro’s current succession debate.

“I think of the person who was my brother first beyond the crown,” she said.

Komuntale described Oyo as “quiet and reserved, a man of faith who never stopped learning and remained curious about the world around him.”

Although he ascended the throne as a child, she said the responsibilities of kingship did not completely erase the playful side of the young boy he had been.

“He worked hard, learnt, prayed and loved his family,” she said.

For Komuntale, one source of comfort in the wake of his death is the belief that her brother is finally free from the suffering he endured during his prolonged illness.

“After everything he endured in this life, my brother is no longer suffering and has perhaps met the father and sister we lost,” she said.

Her remarks also shed light on why little was publicly known about Oyo’s illness, amid criticism directed at Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire for not providing updates about the King’s health.

Komuntale defended Rwomiire, saying the Prime Minister was among several people who were unaware of the King’s condition because Oyo himself had chosen to keep the illness private.

According to Komuntale, Oyo remained hopeful that he would recover and did not want news of his condition to cause anxiety or fear among his subjects.

She said his health took a turn for the worse around the middle of July, even as his faith remained steadfast.

Her tribute came against the backdrop of growing attention on what happens to Tooro following Oyo’s death, but neither she nor Queen Mother Best Kemigisa used the funeral service to directly engage in the succession contest.

Instead, both appealed for unity and peace.

Oyo died in Dallas on August 27 from angiosarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer that can spread rapidly. His family disclosed the cause of death to mourners on Saturday ahead of his burial at Karambi Royal Tombs.

For Komuntale, however, the memories of Oyo go beyond his reign. They are those of a brother whose life was shaped by faith, family, responsibility and years spent carrying a crown from childhood into adulthood.