KAMPALA – The Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, has briefed Parliament on the Government’s comprehensive Whole-of-Government approach to accord a colourful, befitting and nationally representative official send-off to the late King of Tooro, His Royal Highness Rukirabasaija Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
The young Monarch, described as iconic, promising and people-oriented, passed away on Friday 28th August 2026 in Dallas, United States, at the age of 34 while receiving treatment.
Presenting a statement on behalf of Government, Minister Babalanda informed Parliament that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has taken lead of the national mourning period.She told the House that on Monday 31st August 2026, Cabinet sitting at State House Entebbe and chaired by H.E the President extended long and earnest eulogies to the fallen Monarch and directed that an official burial be organized.”Under the wise guidance of H.E the President, the Head of State directed the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister to coordinate a Whole-of-Government Approach bringing together the Public Sector and other critical stakeholders,” Babalanda told Parliament.
She also relayed President Museveni’s tribute of Saturday 29th August in which the President said: “How unfair life can be! He was orphaned while still young and he has died young,” and confirmed Government had supported the King’s treatment in Germany and later the US.
Minister Babalanda informed Parliament that on Tuesday 1st September 2026, the House had earlier received a Statement from the Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business and held a special sitting to debate and eulogize the immense contribution of the late Monarch towards the socio-economic transformation of Tooro.
She further briefed that on the same day, acting on Cabinet directive, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister convened and chaired an Inter-Ministerial National Organising Committee (N.O.C) meeting together with Representatives of the Royal Family of Tooro.
According to Babalanda, the N.O.C meeting was attended by a cross-section of Ministers responsible for Gender and Culture, Presidency, Agriculture, Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Public Service, Foreign Affairs and Internal Affairs among others.
In her briefing to Parliament, the Minister outlined that Cabinet had received a Paper from the Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Development on preparatory arrangements agreed upon with the Royal Family, and that the Kingdom working with authorities in Dallas had tentatively set Thursday 3rd September for the arrival of the remains.
She confirmed to Parliament that the repatriated remains of the late King are now expected to be received at Entebbe International Airport tomorrow, Friday 4th September 2026 at 10:00am, with Government working through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kenyan authorities to ensure smooth transit.
Minister Babalanda told Parliament that as was the case in previous burials of Royal Dignitaries such as the late Emorimori of the Iteso people, all Government actions will be handled in a unified manner.
She tabled before Parliament the eight major requirements for the decent send-off as outlined by the N.O.C:
a) Events Management at five venues – Entebbe Airport, Karuzika Royal Palace, Buziga Royal Residency, Karambi Royal Tombs and St. John’s Cathedral, with Government providing tents, chairs, mobile toilets and PA systems.
b) Feeding of Mourners for 09 days, being handled by the Office of the CDF under Ministry of Defence at Buziga and Karuzika.
c) Funeral Management contracted to A-Plus Funeral Home including airport reception, executive vehicles from Nairobi, portraits, condolence books, wreaths, order of service, marble grave and Royal Mausoleum, all costs covered by Government.
d) Security and Protocol including UPDF and UPF bands, pall bearers, gun salute and crowd control.
e) Palace Upgrades at Karuzika being handled by UPDF Engineers Brigade.
f) Dignitaries – protocol for expected delegations from Royal families within Uganda and Africa.
g) Repatriation – Government has met all medical bills and repatriation costs from Dallas to Nairobi to Entebbe, paid by the President through State House.
h) Health Camp supervised by Ministry of Health for mourners in Tooro.
Minister Babalanda assured Parliament that security agencies have taken charge of security of mourners and that the official nine-day mourning period will begin only after the body arrives at Karuzika Palace.
