The Tooro Kingdom administration has broken its silence after the drama surrounding the burial of King Oyo, admitting that some things went wrong and apologising to anyone who felt disappointed by how the final journey was handled.
In a message issued after the King was laid to rest on Saturday 12th September, the Kingdom administration said it recognised that the historic and emotionally charged period had not been handled perfectly.
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister Rwomire Calvin Amstrong, he admits that communication could have been better and that some actions and omissions may have disappointed people.
The apology comes after weeks of mourning that were overshadowed by disagreements over the future of the Tooro throne and a dramatic standoff during the final burial rites.
But rather than revisit the confrontation, the Kingdom administration has called for the Batooro to heal, reflect and rebuild.
He said the priority during the difficult days had been to get King Oyo through his final journey with the dignity and honour befitting a monarch. He further explained that the administration had to put aside differences, manage its own grief and ensure that the King received a dignified send-off.
But it acknowledged that this was easier said than done. And that the Kingdom was mourning its King while simultaneously dealing with the enormous logistical, cultural and institutional responsibility of organising his funeral.
“Where we fell short of expectations, where communication could have been better, or where anyone felt disappointed by our actions or omissions, I offer my sincere apologies. These shortcomings should never be mistaken for a lack of respect or commitment. We were a people grieving an immense loss while doing everything within our ability to honour our King.” he posted on his official X platform
Rwomire further stressed that the mistakes should not be interpreted as disrespect for King Oyo, saying the people organising the burial were themselves grieving an enormous loss.
“We recognise that everything may not have been done perfectly. This was an unprecedented moment for our generation. Emotions were understandably high, decisions sometimes had to be made under extraordinary pressure, and grief affected us all in different ways.” he added
Rwomire also used the message to recognise those who stood with the Kingdom during the difficult period.
Among them was Prince Jonathan Bala, Oyo’s Principal Private Secretary, whom the administration praised for remaining loyal to the late King until his final moments.
The Kingdom also thanked President Yoweri Museveni, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Royal Family, government, religious and cultural leaders, clans, Masaza, volunteers, businesses, the media and thousands of ordinary Batooro and Ugandans who supported the funeral.
But the biggest message was directed towards what comes next. He said the events surrounding Oyo’s death and burial had exposed problems within the Kingdom’s institutions and among its leadership.
Those problems, he said, must not simply be buried with the King. Instead, the Kingdom must learn from them. Institutions that worked must be strengthened. Those that failed must be honestly examined. Trust that was damaged must be rebuilt. And the people of Tooro must be given room to grieve and heal.
Rwomire admitted that difficult conversations are still ahead. There will be institutional questions. There will be competing opinions. And there will likely be disagreements over the way forward.
But the message warned that those disagreements must not become bigger than Tooro itself. There should be no winners and losers, the administration said.
“There will be difficult conversations ahead. There will be institutional questions that require wisdom and clarity. There may be different opinions about the way forward. But our differences must never become greater than the Kingdom we all belong to. This is not the time for winners and losers. It is the time for responsible leadership, humility and reconciliation. What is needed now is responsible leadership, humility and reconciliation. The death of King Oyo, it said, should also serve as a reminder that positions come and go.” he further stated
Kings reign and eventually pass on. Leaders change. Personal ambitions fade. Disagreements come and go. But Tooro remains.
“His Majesty’s passing should remind us that positions are temporary, but Tooro remains. Personal ambitions pass, disagreements pass and generations pass, but the responsibility of preserving this Kingdom for those who come after us endures.” he noted
And it is that Kingdom, rather than individual personalities or positions, that the administration says must be protected.
After the tears, the burial drama and the succession storm, Tooro now faces the harder task of rebuilding trust and finding a way forward without allowing the divisions exposed by King Oyo’s death to fracture the Kingdom.
What was supposed to be King Oyo’s final farewell turned into a dramatic showdown at the royal tombs on Saturday, delaying the burial for hours and forcing President Yoweri Museveni to intervene before the late monarch could finally be laid to rest.
The former boy King was eventually buried at the Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal at about 5pm, several hours later than the expected burial time.
The delay came after a standoff reportedly developed over the final interment rituals, with the grieving Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa, and members of the Babiito royal clan on opposite sides of the disagreement.
The tension was the latest manifestation of the succession crisis that has rocked Tooro since Oyo’s death. But before the drama at the tombs, the day had begun with an emotional farewell at St John’s Cathedral.
