The Moment Reality Hit: Komuntale Speaks After King Oyo’s Death.

Ladies and Gentlemen, reality has finally settled in. King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru is no more. I could not help but feel my heart break as I listened to the speech delivered by his sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, during the service organized in Kabarole to pray for the King as part of Okutabaaza Omuguta Gw’Omukama. There was something deeply painful about listening to a sister speak about her brother in what is now the final chapter of his earthly journey. But beyond the grief, Princess Komuntale’s speech also appeared to respond to questions that have been raised about the secrecy surrounding the King’s illness. Just yesterday, Andrew Mwenda accused the royal family of failing to inform anyone about the King’s condition. But according to Princess Komuntale, the decision not to publicly disclose his illness was King Oyo’s own request. That is an important detail. Whatever disagreements people may have about the affairs of the Kingdom, there is a human being at the center of all this—a young man, a son, a brother, and a King whose final wishes deserved to be respected. And perhaps this is a moment for all of us to put politics, factions and personal battles aside and remember the humanity behind the title. Omukama Oyo was not merely a throne. He was a person. May his soul rest in peace.