Unconfirmed reports are circulating on social media claiming that His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the King of Tooro, has died.

The reports began making the rounds on Thursday evening, 27 August 2026, with posts shared by journalists, including Nation Media’s Sudhir Byaruhnga, and politicians such as Kasambya County MP David Kabanda. With several users adding that he had been in an ICU battling cancer, these claims have spread across several social media platforms.

However, Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara has dismissed the reports, writing, “…the King of Tooro is still unwell and remains under medical management” in the United States.

At 6 pm the same evening, Tooro Kingdom on X confirmed: “King Oyo is currently in a critical condition.”

Earlier this month, the Tooro Kingdom also dismissed similar reports about King Oyo’s health, saying he was abroad for official engagements and further studies.

Who is King Oyo?
Born on 16 April 1992 in Fort Portal, Uganda, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV ascended the Tooro throne at the age of three in 1995, following his father’s death, making him one of the world’s youngest monarchs.

Raised under the guidance of the Tooro Kingdom’s regents and elders, King Oyo combined his royal responsibilities with formal education, attending schools in Uganda before pursuing further studies abroad.

Over the years, he has focused on the modernisation and development of the kingdom, with interests including education, healthcare, tourism and the preservation of Tooro’s cultural heritage. He has continued to undertake official engagements while balancing traditional responsibilities with a more contemporary approach to leadership.

It’s also worth noting that, up to this moment, the 34-year-old King Oyo had no wife or children. In September 2025, the Queen Mother publicly appealed to him to marry and bring an Omugo (queen consort) into the kingdom.

We are actively monitoring the situation and will keep you posted, on this page.