The Omukama of Toro, Oyo Nyimba, who turns 18 this week, is likely to enroll at the prestigious Sandhurst Military Academy in the UK after his studies, the Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa, has revealed.
Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV this week hosted one of his trustees, King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, at his Karuziike (palace) in Buziga, Kampala, to mark his birthday.
The king, who will be given his full powers as Omukama of Toro, taking over from the regents who have been helping him run the kingdom for 15 years, is a young man everyone would love to meet.
Soft-spoken and lacking the teenage playfulness expected of a 17-year-old, Oyo looks quite capable of steering Toro from here on.He was crowned king in 1995 when he was three. The time I spent with him, I was on my knees, never mind my age and tribe.
Dressed in a tunic with his feet resting on a leopard skin, this tall handsome man has come a long way from the three-year-old the world watched being crowned king in 1995. He now exudes the regality that comes with royalty.
Although the king looked tired after a long day of events, he answered every question I raised with ease, save for when it came to the topic of finding a queen.
“The focus is now finishing school and planning for my kingdom where education and health will be my key aspects to begin with,” he said.
The Omukama is in his final year at Kampala International School. Celebrations to mark his full ascent to the Toro throne will include a ceremony in which Toro’s beautiful girls will be paraded before the king now that he is a man. Well, they could come in handy for future reference!
But again, the king is no stranger to creatures beautiful. Big sister Ruth Komuntale and mother Best Kemigisa rank high among Uganda’s most beautiful women. And now that Komuntale is returning home from the USA to take on her role as the Batebe, the Omukama is in a comfortable place.
During the interview with The Observer on Monday, Oyo said he is ready to start his reign like his forefathers did. The ardent Arsenal fan who loves rice and chicken says he has two priorities for now: finishing his studies and reviving the glory of Toro Kingdom.
Besides going to church, the king also loves playing indoor games during his free time. A pool table in one of the rooms in his palace says it all. Growing up as king
“I have spent most of my time trying to understand my role as a king and it was not easy; that is why though I was still little, I will never forget the day I attended an Independence Day celebration and the attention I was given scared me a bit. It is worth looking back now that I am a grown up,” said the king.
That is one of the hazards that comes with the job; there is not much of a normal childhood to talk about. King Oyo says that his mother tells him so many things he did while still young and “it’s a great experience that I will live to tell.”
At school, his friends and colleagues treated him with no special attention, and that helped smoothen the rough edges a little bit. Already, Oyo has diplomacy on the tip of his tongue.
His best friends? The people of Toro and his mother, and all those who want to see Toro as a great kingdom.
His worst enemies? Lazy people who don’t want to work. The Empango that will be held in Kabarole this weekend will be graced by Libyan leader, Muamar Gadaffi, President Yoweri Museveni, kings from Uganda and other kingdoms, plus other dignitaries from across the world.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Who's is he planning to fight? written by aleka , April 14, 2010
Life is too short. Why not focus on happiness instead of training to fight and kull innocent unarmed civilians.
We deserve better.
HE IS KING written by daudi , April 15, 2010
Give the guy a break, who told you at the military academy they train to kill, by the way whats wrong with killing for the sake of kingdom. At Sunderhust they train leadership too aleka. long live omukama
Sandhurst Military Hell NO written by zirindaba , April 15, 2010
Please King Oyo better do something constructive no to become a killer. To Daudi even killers need leaders and that is why leadership is taught there.
Do you remember the recent incident at Kasubi were innocent people were killed, the leader of the killers the last time I checked went to Sandhurst.
I don't think you need military training to promote education and health. King oyo you want to be fit join a gym. But don't be confused by the Sabagabe. Ask Vice president Bukenya he knows better.
Lt. Col. Oyo? written by Pyati Sololo , April 15, 2010
Before the Omukama Oyo can be admitted to the prestigious British military training academy at Sandhurst, he must belong to a national army.
The shortest route to the fullfilment of this requirement would be to enroll into a Local Defence Unit (LDU) nearest to his pad in Buziga, a Kampala suburb, just like one Muhoozi Keinerugaba did years back.
The guy is now a Lieutenant Colonel in "the people's army" and protector of his Dad!
Who cares? written by Lungile , April 16, 2010
The man hates lazy people who dont want to work. Solution: kill them. To do that he needs military training. You people forget one thing: those traditional losers- sorry, leaders, possess their subjects. I mean their subjects are their possessions. They can do whatever they want with them.How about killing for pleasure! Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!
... written by B42 , April 17, 2010
Oyo can you manage Muchaka muchaka at 5am, posho and beans, kiboko daily, why not join kyankwanzi.
The mystique of the military man written by Rev Amos Kasibante , April 17, 2010
What does military training do to a man, to a prince? Is it a traditional mark going back into antiquity of a macho man, leader of men in battle, to traditions of military honour?
Is it intended build hard mettle, inculcate discipline, physical fitness, and solidarity with those likely to pay the ultimate sacrifice in defend of fatherland or motherland?
Is he treading in his grandfather's footsteps or following a tradition bequeathed to us by the British?
Can he specialise in another subject such as law, anthropology, culture studies or politics so as to acquaint himself with a working knowledge of contemporary society?
How about sports or the martial arts? There's is tae-kwon-do, karate, judo, tai chi - the list is endless.
If he can undergo bruising military training, surely he can also take undergo training for some of these, which are more proven to inculcate mental and spiritual discipline far better than military training. Could also try dancing. Or could he be contemplating a career in the national army?
The Omukama of Toro, Oyo Nyimba, who turns 18 this week, is likely to enroll at the prestigious Sandhurst Military Academy in the UK after his studies, the Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa, has revealed.
“I have spent most of my time trying to understand my role as a king and it was not easy; that is why though I was still little, I will never forget the day I attended an Independence Day celebration and the attention I was given scared me a bit. It is worth looking back now that I am a grown up,” said the king.
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
