The late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Tooro Kingdom reportedly considered marrying a Rwandan princess in 2024, but the relationship did not progress to marriage after a relative advised him to choose a Mutoro as his official wife.
According to accounts surrounding Oyo’s personal life, the relative appreciated the beauty of the Rwandan princess but opposed the idea of her becoming the king’s official wife.
She reportedly encouraged Oyo to marry a Mutoro, arguing that a local wife could potentially bear a future king of Tooro.
The advice reportedly left Oyo disheartened after his preferred choice was rejected.
The Rwandan princess was also said to have been disappointed by the decision. According to the account, Oyo offered her the possibility of becoming his second wife if he eventually married a Mutoro as his official wife.
She reportedly rejected the proposal.
Despite the disappointment, the two remained close friends.
The friendship reportedly continued until Oyo’s death on August 27, 2026, at the age of 34.
When the Rwandan princess received news of the king’s death, she reportedly locked herself inside a house in Nakawa Division, Kampala, where she spent two days mourning and weeping.
Oyo, who had been king of Tooro since 1995, died at a hospital in Germany after a period of illness. His death triggered a succession process in the kingdom, with members of the royal family subsequently announcing a new heir and preparing for a new king.
The account of Oyo’s proposed marriage offers a glimpse into the personal considerations surrounding royal marriage, where private relationships can intersect with questions of lineage, cultural identity and succession.
