Bamasaaba Mourn Tooro King Oyo, Stand in Solidarity with Royal Family

The Bamasaaba cultural community has joined the people of Tooro Kingdom in mourning the passing of His Majesty Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, describing his death as a painful loss to both the kingdom and the wider cultural fraternity in Uganda.

The spokesperson of the Bamasaaba Cultural Institution, Hon. Steven Masiga, conveyed condolences from HRH Sir Umukuuka Jude Mike Mudoma III, the entire Bugisu region to the Tooro Kingdom, the royal family, the Batoro community living in Bugisu and the people of Tooro at home. 

Masiga said Bugisu stands in solidarity with the family of the late King, the Queen Mother, the Babito ruling family, the Tooro Kingdom cabinet and the entire Tooro community during what he described as a deeply troubling moment.

“The entire Bugisu region consoles and condoles with Tooro Kingdom and the entire Tooro community in both Bugisu and back home,” Masiga said.

He noted that the relationship between the Bamasaaba and the people of Tooro extends beyond cultural interactions, with members of the Tooro royal family and community having established strong links with Bugisu over the years.

According to Masiga, Bugisu has notable Tooro royal representations within the Bamasaba cultural institution, including Hon. Rose Wekomba and Dr. Kasoro, among others.

He said these longstanding connections make the passing of the young Tooro monarch a deeply personal loss for many people in Bugisu.

‘Lightning Has Struck, Milk Has Spilled’

Masiga used a traditional expression to illustrate the magnitude of the loss, saying the Bamasaba understand the pain being experienced by the Tooro people.

“Indeed, lightning has struck and amata kaikire — milk has spilled,” he said, emphasizing the profound grief that has followed the death of the monarch.

He further urged the Tooro community to use the difficult period to strengthen unity rather than allow grief to create divisions or friction within the kingdom.

“We pray that his demise should not create friction but rather should be used as a unifier and bring Tooro much closer,” Masiga said.

He drew a parallel with the death of Jesus Christ, arguing that the departure of a leader can inspire those left behind to strengthen and advance the values and causes that the deceased championed during his lifetime.

“When Jesus Christ died, those that remained behind to preach on his behalf made Christianity more solid than before,” he said.

Shared Cultural and Historical Ties

Masiga said the relationship between Bugisu and Tooro is rooted in both their shared Bantu heritage and generations of social and family ties.

He explained that the two communities have maintained longstanding connections through marriage, with many Bamasaba marrying into Tooro families while Batoro have similarly established families in Bugisu.

“Bugisu region has had a long-standing cultural history with Tooro, firstly as Bantu people and secondly through marriage ties. Many of our people have married in Tooro and several Batoro people have married here too,” he said.

He described these relationships as an important bridge between the two cultural institutions and communities, saying the loss of the Omukama therefore resonates beyond the boundaries of Tooro Kingdom.

Bamasaaba Remember Oyo's Legacy

The Bamaasaba Cultural Institution also associated itself with several causes championed by the late Tooro monarch, particularly environmental conservation, the fight against HIV/AIDS, youth empowerment and education.

Masiga said these initiatives were consistent with the aspirations of communities across Uganda and represented areas in which the late King made efforts to contribute to social development.

“As a community, we strongly associate ourselves with some of the signature projects His Highness of Tooro stood for, like environmental conservation, the HIV fight, youth empowerment and education,” he said.

He noted that these causes should continue to receive attention even after the passing of the King, urging those who admired his leadership to preserve and build upon the values and initiatives he promoted.

Message to the Royal Family

Masiga extended the Bamasaba community's sympathies to the entire Tooro royal family, the Queen Mother, the Babito ruling family, the kingdom's cabinet and all people connected to Tooro.

He particularly recognized the pain of losing a monarch at a relatively young age, describing the death as a difficult moment for a kingdom that had looked to its young King for leadership and continuity.

“It is a troubling moment for the loss of the King at such a young age, and as Bugisu region we commiserate with the entire Tooro community in both Bugisu and back in Tooro,” Masiga said.

The Bamasaaba message comes amid widespread mourning following the death of King Oyo, with cultural institutions, political leaders and communities across Uganda paying tribute to the late monarch.

For the Bamasaba, however, the loss carries a particular significance because of the deep historical, cultural and family ties that connect Bugisu and Tooro.

Masiga said the Bamasaba stand with the people of Tooro in grief and prayer, while encouraging the kingdom's leadership and subjects to remain united and preserve the legacy of their departed monarch.

He concluded by reaffirming Bugisu's solidarity with the Tooro royal family and the wider Tooro community, saying the relationship between the two communities should remain strong during the period of mourning and beyond.