Museveni to Receive Oyo’s Body, MPs Demand Cancer Centre

Tooro MPs have called on the government to establish a specialised cancer treatment centre in the region in memory of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, as preparations intensify for the return of the King’s body to Uganda.

Members of Parliament from the Tooro sub-region say the proposed cancer centre would provide a lasting tribute to the late monarch while addressing the growing need for specialised cancer care in Tooro and neighbouring areas.

The legislators argue that the facility would help reduce the burden on patients forced to travel outside the region in search of specialised diagnosis and treatment, while leaving a tangible legacy in honour of the late King.

The demand comes as Tooro prepares to receive the remains of Omukama Oyo, whose body is expected back in Uganda on Thursday, September 3, 2026, officially marking the beginning of nine days of mourning.

According to Hajji Yunus Kakande, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President, the late King’s remains will be received by President Yoweri Museveni upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport.

The body is being transported from the United States, with stopovers in Qatar and Nairobi. It is expected to depart Nairobi at approximately 8:30am on Thursday and arrive at Entebbe at around 10am.

From Entebbe, the remains will reportedly be airlifted to Kyegegwa before being taken to Kyenjojo District, where the King’s subjects and members of the public will be given an opportunity to view the body and pay their last respects.

After the viewing in Kyenjojo, the body will be taken to Karuzika Palace in Fort Portal, where preparations for the final rites will continue.

A number of traditional and cultural rituals will be performed in accordance with Tooro Kingdom customs before the late Omukama is laid to rest.

For the legislators, however, the King’s legacy should extend beyond the mourning period, with the proposed cancer treatment centre envisioned as a permanent symbol of his service to the people of Tooro.

Omukama Oyo became King of Tooro at the age of three in 1995 and reigned for more than three decades until his death in the United States.