Thousands of mourners and Tooro kingdom loyalists lined the Fort Portal-Kampala highway to pay their last respects to the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV as his remains were transported to Fort Portal ahead of his burial next week.King Oyo, who died in Dallas, United States, last Thursday, was repatriated to Uganda today as the kingdom began preparations for his burial on Saturday, September 12.The remains arrived at Humura Playground in Kyegegwa at about 1:15 pm aboard a helicopter. They were transferred to a waiting hearse before the funeral procession set off for Fort Portal.Tooro loyalists line the streetsBy 10 am, hundreds of mourners had gathered at the playground, with some walking from Kyegegwa town to join the procession. Along the Kyegegwa-Fort Portal highway, crowds gathered at trading centres, boda boda stages and roadside vantage points to catch a glimpse of the cortege.In Kyenjojo town, the usually busy streets fell unusually quiet, with several businesses closing as residents gathered along the highway to mourn the king.King Oyo’s family membersSome mourners had braved the midday sun since morning, listening to speeches from political and cultural leaders who paid tribute to King Oyo, highlighted his contribution to Tooro and urged residents to uphold the kingdom’s customs and traditions.Tears could be seen among some mourners as the hearse approached the town. Large crowds also gathered at Rugombe, Kagororo, Butiiti and Ngezi trading centres. Some held posters bearing the late king’s image, while others stood at boda boda stages and along the roadside to watch the procession pass.By 3 pm, a large crowd had gathered near the signpost leading to King Oyo’s demonstration farm in Bugaki. Police and UPDF personnel were deployed along the Kyegegwa-Fort Portal route to manage traffic, control crowds and maintain security as the procession made its way towards the kingdom’s headquarters.For many mourners, the procession offered a final opportunity to publicly honour a monarch who had occupied the Tooro throne for more than three decades. Mwesige Beyamura, one of the mourners, praised King Oyo for promoting development and unity in the kingdom.Peter Kyomuhangi described the late king as a pillar of development who remained down-to-earth and passionate about health, sports and the welfare of his subjects.Godfrey Businge, the Kyenjojo Town Council mayor, said allowing residents to freely mourn the king was important given Mwenge’s historical contribution to the affairs of the Tooro Kingdom.King Oyo ascended the Tooro throne in 1995 at the age of three, following the death of his father, Prince Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III.He became one of Uganda’s longest-serving traditional rulers, reigning for 31 years until his death at the age of 34.His remains will lie in state at Karuzika Royal Palace in Fort Portal until September 12, when he will be buried at the Karambi Royal Tombs.The post Thousands line streets as King Oyo’s remains return to Tooro appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.