Princess Ruth Komuntale has revealed that the late Omukama of Tooro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, spent more than a year seeking medical attention for unexplained pain before he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
The revelation came Friday during the emotional send-off ceremony for the 34-year-old king at St John’s Cathedral in Kabarole, where Komuntale spoke publicly about a battle the royal family had kept private at Oyo’s request.
Komuntale said Oyo’s cancer journey began in mid-October 2025 when he was diagnosed with angiosarcoma, a rare cancer known for its aggressive nature and ability to spread rapidly.
“My brother’s cancer journey began in mid-October of 2025, when he was diagnosed with angiosarcoma, a very rare and aggressive form of cancer that can spread very rapidly,” she said.
But the diagnosis came after a long period of uncertainty.
According to Komuntale, Oyo had spent more than a year seeking medical attention in Uganda because of different pains, without doctors identifying the underlying illness.
“Before his diagnosis, he had spent more than a year seeking medical evaluations while he was here in Uganda for the different pains he was experiencing. Sadly, he was not receiving the correct diagnosis,” she said.
She said doctors initially believed the pain could have been caused by strenuous exercise or ulcers and recommended physical therapy.
“He was told that his pain was likely related to strenuous exercise or ulcers and was advised to undergo physical therapy,” Komuntale said.
By the time advanced medical examinations established the correct diagnosis, the cancer had already spread significantly and was affecting several organs.
Oyo kept illness private
Komuntale said the family chose to keep Oyo’s condition away from the public because the late king himself did not want news of his illness to cause fear within the royal family and Tooro Kingdom.
“When this news was shared with us, my brother cautioned us not to tell anyone. He believed that he was going to get better. He did not want to create panic or fear among our family members within the kingdom,” she said.
For a time, treatment appeared to be working.
Komuntale said the cancer cells began shrinking after Oyo received the correct treatment, while his energy and strength returned.
“After my brother began receiving the correct treatment, the cancer cells started shrinking dramatically. He regained energy, and those improvements gave us all hope that he was going to get better,” she said.
But the improvement did not last.
In mid-July 2026, Oyo’s condition deteriorated as the cancer, which had already remained in his body for an extended period, became increasingly difficult to control.
“Sadly, in mid-July of this year, things took a terrible turn. The cancer had been in his body just too long. And despite everything that was done, his condition became increasingly difficult,” Komuntale said.
Oyo died on August 27, 2026, aged 34, bringing an end to a reign that began when he was only three years old.
‘You never stopped being my little brother’
Despite his status as king, Komuntale said Oyo remained her younger brother first.
In one of the most emotional moments of her farewell, she spoke of watching him grow from a child monarch into a man carrying the enormous responsibilities of the Tooro throne.
“You became a king, but to me you never stopped being my little brother. I watched you carry responsibilities that most people could never imagine. I watched you grow, learn, lead, pray, struggle, persevere, and love,” she said.
She remembered him as a man who loved learning, farming, sports, exercise and his family.
Among the memories she will carry is their time exercising together.
“I’m going to miss my workout partner. We had great times working out together,” she said.
But beyond the memories of family and royal duty, Komuntale said her brother’s faith remained firm throughout his illness.
“But even with everything my brother was going through, his faith remained intact. He never stopped praying and reading the Word of God,” she said.
A final warning on health
Komuntale also used her brother’s experience to urge Ugandans to pay greater attention to their health, particularly when symptoms persist without a clear explanation.
She called on people to undergo regular medical check-ups, ask questions and seek another medical opinion where necessary.
“Please take care of yourselves, receive your medical check-ups regularly, and if something does not feel right with your body, do not ignore it, please,” she said.
“Seek proper medical attention, ask questions, follow up, and if necessary, seek another medical opinion. Our health is a gift and we must do everything we can to protect it.”
As Tooro prepares to bury its king today, Saturday, September 12, the details of his private battle have added a deeply personal dimension to the mourning.
For years, Oyo was known to the public as the young monarch who inherited the Tooro throne as a child.
To his sister, however, he remained something simpler and more intimate: a brother whose life was cut short after a long and largely hidden struggle.
In her final words to him, Komuntale said:
“My baby brother, rest now. Your work on this earth is done.”
She added that his legacy would live beyond the burial.
“And you have left behind a legacy that will continue long after today. So, my baby brother, rest now. Your work on this earth is done.”
