Category: News

FORT PORTAL — The death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has not only plunged Tooro Kingdom into mourning but also opened a new chapter for Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, the woman who stood beside the young monarch from the day he ascended the throne.

For three decades, Queen Kemigisa has been one of the most recognisable figures around the Tooro crown.

But with Oyo’s death, what happens to the Queen Mother?

That question is now being quietly asked as Batooro prepare to lay their king to rest and the kingdom looks ahead to a new reign.

Oyo was only three years old when he was installed as King in 1995. His mother, then just 28, became one of the regents entrusted with guiding the young monarch until he came of age in 2010.

For years, Kemigisa was therefore much more than the king’s mother.

She was part of the machinery surrounding the young king, helping guide him through childhood, adolescence and eventually adulthood as monarch.

But according to Tooro cultural traditions, the death of a king also brings an end to the Queen Mother’s active royal role.

Prominent ritualist David Baguma explains that once a king dies, the Queen Mother’s role tied to that particular reign comes to an end and she returns to her own palace.

He says Oyo’s situation was also unusual because he never had a wife or Queen, meaning Kemigisa became his closest female companion within the royal establishment.

“When a new monarch is announced, depending on his age, he will rule with his wife or mother,” Baguma explains.

The new monarch may also have his wife or mother invite sisters to live with her at the palace and assist with household responsibilities.

Cultural expert Rev. Clovis Kyalimpa puts the transition even more dramatically, describing the death of a king as being similar to a “coup” against the reigning Queen.

According to Kyalimpa, the Queen Mother’s status is formally concluded during the king’s burial ceremony, known as Kitabaza.

After that, she is expected to withdraw from active royal duties, although she may continue serving as a counsellor whenever her advice is required.

Oyo’s death therefore marks the end of an extraordinary chapter for Kemigisa — from young mother and regent of a three-year-old king to the woman who watched him grow into one of Tooro’s most prominent modern monarchs.

But Kemigisa was not the only woman who helped shape Oyo’s reign.

Another key figure was Princess Ruth Nsemere Komuntale, who became Batebe (Chief Princess) in 1996, just months after her brother was crowned.

Komuntale was regarded as one of Oyo’s confidants and remained a prominent figure around the royal family.

Then there was Princess Elizabeth Bagaya, Oyo’s paternal aunt and one of the regents who helped guide the young king during his early years.

Bagaya, now 90, has often been described as a unifying figure within the royal family, particularly during difficult moments of Oyo’s reign.

Under Tooro tradition, a reigning king operates within a wider royal structure that includes his wife or Queen, the head of the Babiito clan known as the Musuga, the Princess Royal, the Prince and, where necessary, a ritualist.

With Oyo gone, that structure will now have to be reconfigured around his successor.

For Queen Kemigisa, however, the transition is deeply personal.

She was the young mother who watched her three-year-old son inherit the crown.

She became his regent, guided him through his formative years and remained a central figure as he grew into the king Tooro knew as Oyo.

Now, with the king gone, tradition dictates that she step back.

The crown moves on. The Queen Mother’s chapter, after three decades in its shadow, comes to an end.

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Popular Indian playback singer Neha Kakkar is set to headline India Day 2026, with the Ruparelia Group joining the event as one of its principal sponsors.

The annual celebration brings together Uganda’s Indian community and other Ugandans to celebrate Indian culture and heritage while highlighting the strong social, economic and cultural ties between Uganda and India.

Kakkar, one of India’s best-known contemporary singers, is expected to be one of the biggest attractions at this year’s celebration. She is widely recognised for her energetic performances and hit Bollywood songs and has also served as a judge on popular Indian singing reality shows, including Indian Idol.

India Day 2026 slated for October 3 at Kololo Airstrip will be headlined by Kansai Plascon Uganda, while the Ruparelia Group has been listed among the principal sponsors. Other partners include Tembo and Lifeline Steels, Airtel Uganda, TyreXpress, Travelog, Bank of Baroda Uganda, Technology Associates, Empire, Inspiring Solutions, Victoria University, Suzuki by CFAO, Africa Global Logistics and BZolutions Global Private Limited.

The annual event has grown into an important platform for cultural celebration, business networking and community engagement, bringing together members of Uganda’s Indian community, business leaders and other guests.

India Day provides an opportunity for the Indian community to showcase its traditions, music, food and culture while highlighting its contribution to Uganda’s development.

For the Ruparelia Group, the 2026 sponsorship builds on its involvement in last year’s celebrations.

The conglomerate was among the organisations that supported India Day 2025, held at Kololo Independence Grounds, where the festivities were combined with a major humanitarian initiative supporting Ugandan children born with congenital heart defects.

The initiative mobilised support for children requiring specialised cardiac surgery in India, with the first group of 50 children scheduled to travel for treatment.

The 2025 celebration also featured Indian music, traditional dances, cuisine and performances by Indian artists, alongside fundraising efforts aimed at supporting the children’s medical treatment.

The Ruparelia Group has maintained a longstanding connection with Uganda’s Indian community and has supported initiatives in healthcare, education, sports, culture and community development through its businesses and the Ruparelia Foundation.

Founded by businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, the group has investments across several sectors, including real estate, hospitality, education, insurance, agriculture and media.

Its businesses include Speke Resort and Convention Centre, Speke Hotel, Kampala Parents’ School, Kampala International School Uganda and Victoria University, among others.

Sudhir Ruparelia has also been involved in community leadership, having previously served as a trustee of the Indian Association of Uganda.

Related

Controversy has erupted in Kapchorwa District following the reported renaming of the Kiprotich High Altitude Training Centre to Teryet High Altitude Training Centre.

It is alleged that the decision was taken without the consent or consulting Olympic gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich, after whom the facility was originally named.

The training centre, located in Teryet Ward in Kapchorwa Municipality, was named in honor of Kiprotich’s historic achievement at the 2012 London Olympic Games, where he won Uganda’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in athletics in the 42-kilometre marathon.

However, the facility’s name was recently changed, a development that has surprised athletes, residents, and sports administrators.

Several local runners who train at the centre say they were not informed in advance and only learned of the change after seeing official documents and references bearing the new name.

Stephen Kiprotich says he was neither consulted nor formally notified about the decision.

Speaking to URN, the Olympic and World Champion described the process as unfair, questioning why facilities named after other national heroes, such as John Akii-Bua, have never been altered.

Kiprotich further warned that the government risks harming tourism through what he described as wrong branding, noting that many visitors are drawn to the area because of his legacy rather than the geographical name.

He has asked the government to formally explain why the name was changed and to account for the process under which the decision was made.

Community leaders in Kapchorwa have also questioned the decision-making process, arguing that renaming a public facility of national significance without stakeholder consultation undermines transparency and disrespects the legacy of a national hero.

Bush Chepkurui, a cultural elder in the area, says Sebei cultural values discourage withdrawing an honour once it has been given, warning that such actions are culturally unacceptable unless an alternative recognition is provided.

He adds that Teryet is simply a place name and cannot be equated to the national contribution made by the marathon icon.
George Mwenege, a resident of Teryet, says Stephen Kiprotich put Kapchorwa and Uganda on the world map, adding that facilities named after such icons should not be altered without wide consultations involving the athlete, the community, and sports authorities.

Sports analysts warn that such actions could discourage current and future athletes, noting that recognition through public infrastructure naming plays an important role in motivating sportsmen and women.

Isaac Kachembe, a former athlete and now an athletics coach, notes that the issue goes beyond a name.

He says it is about honoring contribution, preserving history, and inspiring the next generation of athletes.

Dr Justin Yapsoyekwo, the Chairperson of the Board of Governors of Teryet High Altitude Training Centre, says the decision to change the name was taken by the Ministry of Education and Sports together with the National Council of Sports.

Yapsoyekwo says the authorities acted after some athletes complained that using Kiprotich’s name was creating divisions among athletes, arguing that several other athletes had also represented Uganda successfully on the international stage.

She says the intention was to create a more inclusive identity for the training centre based on its geographical location.

“The decision was taken after the concern was raised by a few elite athletes, so we agreed to use the name of the location,” Said Yapsoyekwo.

According to her, the name Teryet was therefore adopted after consideration of the concerns raised by athletes and the relevant sports authorities.

However, Eveline Chebet Kubarika, the former Kapchorwa District Chairperson, says the district council was never notified and that no council resolution was passed to approve the renaming of the facility.

“The council was not informed, and there was nothing put as a resolution,” she said.

As debate continues, residents and athletes are calling for clarity, transparency, and a review of the decision. Some are urging authorities to reinstate the original name or engage all stakeholders in an open dialogue.

Sam Murai, a sports enthusiast in Kapchorwa, alleges that individuals behind the renaming may have personal interests, a move he says is demoralizing athletes and undermining sports development in the region.

The controversy has reignited a broader national discussion on how Uganda recognizes and preserves the legacy of its sporting heroes, and the need for clear guidelines governing the naming and renaming of public facilities.

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Shakira Shakiraa has explained how an ordinary moment at a gym eventually developed into a friendship with the late Tooro King, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

The singer recently found herself facing questions online after speaking about her connection with the late monarch.

Some social media users questioned how close the two really were, while others accused her of using King Oyo’s memory to attract attention.

Shakira has rejected those suggestions.

According to the singer, there was nothing calculated about how the relationship began.

She said the two first interacted after a gym machine she was using stopped working.

I was on one of the machines and it refused to work, and he came, he helped me out.

That brief interaction eventually turned into regular greetings whenever they met at the gym.

Over time, Shakira says those encounters developed into a friendship.

She also became acquainted with Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, adding another connection to the Tooro royal family.

The singer insists she never spoke about King Oyo because she wanted to trend.

Instead, she said she was simply responding when people asked about her personal experience with the late monarch.

When they asked me about him, I shared my experience because that stood out in my friendship with him.

Shakira’s explanation comes at a sensitive moment for Tooro following the death of King Oyo.

The monarch’s passing has generated widespread mourning, while people who knew him personally have continued sharing memories of his life.

For Shakira, her memory is not about royal ceremonies or public appearances.

It is about a friendship that, according to her account, started with something as ordinary as a faulty gym machine.

She has therefore dismissed the criticism and maintained that she had no reason to manufacture a relationship with the late king.