KING OYO NYIMBA OF TORO THE YOUNGEST MONARCH IS INSTALLED IN A COLOURFUL CEREMONY IN PORT PORTAL.

Report by Leo Odera Omolo

THE King of Toro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru, has called for the revival of the old practice of having granaries in households to ensure food security.

“Food security will be our key area and every family should have enough to eat and store. We should revive the old system of granaries at home,” Oyo said on Saturday in his maiden address after taking over the administration of the kingdom.

He outlined a five-year programme that will also emphasise the promotion of culture, education, skills training for out-of-school youth sanitation and health.

Oyo, the “world’s youngest king” who turned 18 over the weekend, succeeded to the throne at the age of three years when his father died of a heart attack in 1995. However, he could only be crowned upon reaching adulthood.

Accordingly this happened on Saturday in a traditional ceremony in his hilltop palace overlooking his capital of Fort Portal.

His symbolic authority covers the area known as the Mountains of the Moon, which straddles the borders of Uganda and the DR Congo.

The young king hardly smiled throughout the ceremony, often staring down at the floor. At one point, the master of ceremonies joked about how rare it is to see the teenage king smile.

Flanked by ornately dressed tribal leaders, and President Yoweri Museveni seated to his immediate right, Oyo said assuming full powers over the kingdom was historic.

Oyo’s mother (second-left), Buganda queen Nagginda, her daughter Princess Ssangalyambogo, Museveni, Oyo and other royals pose for a photo

The king recognised the role by Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi, Omukama Solomon Iguru and various individuals and companies that have supported the kingdom.

Specially recognised were: the jailed former premier, John Sanyu Katuramu, the Libyan leader, Muammar Gadaffi, as well as the cultural leaders of Ivory Coast and Benin.

The Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa, said: “Even though the king is 18, I will never neglect nor abandon him. I will continue to offer counsel and advice and mind about his welfare.”

The retired bishop of Rwenzori, Eustace Kamanyire and Archbishop Luke Orombi offered Bibles to the king and urged him to seek divine guidance from God in order to make wise decisions.

Kamanyire also advised the king to resist temptations to get a queen. He said the king should first concentrate on his studies and obtain knowledge to enable him lead in justice and peace.

In the ceremonial ritual, Oyo received spears, shields and drums handed down from past Toro kings.

His prime minister, William Nyakatura, said the kingdom faces financial constraints but if the confiscated properties of the kingdom were returned, the pain would reduce. He added that a committee had been formed to push for the return of the property.

Meanwhile, yesterday Oyo started his work by presiding over the kingdom’s supreme court.

Traditionally, the accused are not allowed to defend themselves before the king.

The court only receives cases related to the kingdom matters.

Ends