A Ugandan king who became the world’s youngest reigning monarch when he took the kingdom aged three has died aged 34. The Tooro Kingdom said in a statement late yesterday that the young king had died.
AFP says Uganda is a republic headed by long-time President Yoweri Museveni but recognises traditional kingdoms, which are largely cultural organisations with little political power.
“It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that I announce the passing of His Majesty the Omukama of Tooro, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV at about 10:00 pm this evening,” the prime minister (Omuhikirwa) of Tooro Kingdom stated in a statement.
King Oyo succeeded his father, who died of a heart attack in 1995, but was anointed after he turned 18 years old.
Last year, Guinness World Records named him the world’s youngest reigning monarch.
The king died in the United States, where he had been undergoing treatment, after weeks of speculation about his failing health, local media said.
The Tooro region of Uganda in the west of the country has a population of around 2.1 million people.
Africa has only three sovereign monarchy, Eswatini, Lesotho and Morocco, and a number of other countries recognise traditional kingdoms as cultural entities without political status.
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