By Aggrey BabaThe death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV should not mark the end of the unity he cultivated throughout his reign, former Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko has said, describing the late monarch as a generational king whose influence stretched far beyond the borders of Tooro Kingdom. Those were the former MP’s words on Sunday night while paying tribute to the fallen King at his Buziga home, where politicians, members of the Rukurato, Tooro subjects, religious leaders and friends gathered to mourn the monarch. For Nsereko, Oyo’s defining contribution was not simply that he ascended the Tooro throne as a young boy or became one of Uganda’s most recognizable traditional leaders, but that he used his position to bring people together. “As a generational king, he stood out as a unifier and not someone who divided people,” Nsereko said. He argued that Oyo’s legacy should therefore be measured by the unity he leaves behind, particularly at a moment when Tooro is facing the difficult task of coming to terms with the death of a king who had been on the throne since childhood. Nsereko urged the people of Tooro to remain united and prayerful, saying difficult moments often test the character and strength of a people. “I would like to thank you for the way you have conducted yourselves and displayed integrity during the time of loss. It’s during the time of loss of beloved ones that you see the strength of a people,” he said. He expressed confidence that Tooro would withstand the shock and continue to flourish, despite the loss of its youthful King. “We have no doubt that the Kingdom of Toro shall continue to shine and shall continue to thrive,” Nsereko said. The former lawmaker said the shock of Oyo’s death had been felt across the country, arguing that Uganda had lost more than a King. He described Oyo as a King whose generation had grown up knowing him, watching him transition from the world’s famous boy King into an adult leader who carried the responsibilities of the Tooro Kingdom. Oyo ascended the throne in 1995 when he was just 3yrs old, following the death of his father and remained on the throne until his death at 34, making his life and reign an extraordinary chapter in Uganda’s modern history. Nsereko said the national response to Oyo’s death was therefore appropriate, welcoming the Government’s decision to accord him a state burial and declare three days of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast. He said the gesture demonstrated that although Uganda is made up of different communities and cultural institutions, the country can still unite around moments of national significance. “It is welcome because Uganda is built on the trait of diversity, and we shall always pride in unity with diversity,” he said. But amid the national mourning, Nsereko also turned his attention to the personal pain facing the royal family, particularly the Queen Mother, saying the public should not lose sight of the fact that while Uganda was mourning a King, the Queen Mother was mourning her son. “To all of us, King Oyo is a king, but to the Queen Mother you have lost a son. It is hard for a parent to look into the grave of their child,” he said, noting that the Queen Mother had endured several painful losses within the royal family and called upon God to give her strength as she prepares to bury her son. He also expressed confidence in the future of Tooro, saying the Kingdom’s institutions and people had demonstrated sufficient strength and integrity to carry the legacy forward. His message then returned to the defining quality he associated with the fallen King. According to Nsereko, the best way for Tooro and Uganda to honour the late King is not merely through mourning ceremonies and state honors, but by preserving the spirit of togetherness that he believes characterized Oyo’s leadership. “King Oyo is a generational king,” Nsereko said in a tribute that sought to place the late monarch’s legacy within the wider story of Uganda. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).