Nine Days of Mourning for King Oyo: The People of Tooro to Plant 1 Million Trees

Laudato Voices| 29 August, 2026 | Nine Days of Mourning of the Omukama King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV

As Tooro enters a nine-day mourning period, which follows traditional rituals conducted on Aug 28th 2026 by the Babiito clan, led by its head, Charles Kamurasi. The kingdom and the people of Tooro continue to grieve the loss of its monarch and reflect on his legacy. Among the initiatives announced in his honor is a plan to plant one million trees across the Tooro region. Government minister Margaret Muhanga announced the tree-planting initiative and encouraged neighboring districts to participate Listen to her full message.

Nine Days of Mourning

The death of an Omukama is a significant cultural event for the people of Tooro. After King Oyo’s death, the kingdom began preparations for mourning and succession, with the Chief Prince, Charles Kamurasi, calling an emergency meeting of royal family members at Karuziika Palace (Waswa, 2026). The Kingdom has also stated that the continuity of the Crown is assured and that King Oyo left behind a Prince who will be identified formally in accordance with Tooro traditions and customs (Tooro Kingdom, 2026). The nine-day mourning period therefore includes not only the collective sadness but also a period of cultural unity to recollect in remembrance of the values and virtues of the fallen king as a legacy to be carried forward and the preparation for the next chapter in the history of the monarchy.

For the Batooro, and for us youth who actively serve in the Tooro Kingdom through several Laudato Si Clubs, King Oyo was a monarch whose life touched us through his work in promoting youth creative innovations for entrepreneurial skills and care for creation (both the environment and the people – King Oyo of Uganda committed to ending the AIDS epidemic among young people by 2030 ), when he said

“No child should be born with HIV in Tooro and people that are tested and found to be HIV-positive should be placed on treatment.”

This and many other values made him admirable and a good role model among young people as their defender and a person who understood their world and challenges. He became king as a young child and grew into adulthood while carrying the responsibilities and symbolism of the Tooro throne. This made him an icon of hope for young people, showing that even at a young age, one can accomplish great things and offer visionary leadership.

One Million Trees for King Oyo

We are not surprised that one of the nine days tributes proposed following King Oyo’s death is planting one million trees in his honor. A day after his death, we published a tribute article appealing for recognition of his special efforts and legacy in protecting the environment, highlighting his legendary work in turning this dream into reality. Read our full article

Today, 2026, according to a video message, Minister Margaret Muhanga announced that one million trees would be planted during the mourning period across neighboring districts in Tooro, inviting all people of tooro and well wishers to participate in promoting something that was personal to him. The initiative aims to honor the memory, legacy, and impact of Tooro Kingdom’s late monarch, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV and also encourage the people of Tooro and the youth to create a lasting environmental legacy in memory of his work and impact. This was good news to us and through our Laudato Si Clubs in the region, the Laudato Youth Initiative will uphold this effort through its ongoing one million tree-planting drive as well.

The Symbolic Meaning

A tree is a particularly powerful symbol of remembrance. Unlike temporary memorials, trees grow, provide shade, support biodiversity, protect soil, and benefit generations who may not have lived during the person’s lifetime. We see this as a life-giving initiative that the people of Tooro should embrace, as the proposed one-million-tree campaign could serve as a lasting tribute to King Oyo. King Oyo frequently called for the restoration of wildlife corridors that once connected protected areas. In August 2022, he made history by leading a challenging 10-day Rwenzori Royal Expedition to the summit of Margherita Peak (5,109 meters above sea level) on Mount Stanley, promoting eco-tourism and encouraging both local and international visitors to experience Uganda’s unique natural heritage. The expedition also provided a platform for the Conserving Mountain Ecosystems campaign, highlighting the rapid melting of the range’s equatorial glaciers and the severe flooding affecting downstream communities. King Oyo consistently used his cultural authority to advocate for the restoration of critical biodiversity corridors linking protected areas, emphasizing that connected habitats are essential for wildlife movement, ecological resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. He emphasized promoting local tourism saying most Ugandans encroach on wildlife habitants and corridors because of limited knowledge on conservation and its importance.

“If we promote local tourism where Ugandans are able to to explore what is in their backyard, we shall have helped to cure that spirit of Ignorance’

A Legacy Connected to Environmental Conservation

The tree-planting proposal is significant because environmental conservation was central to King Oyo’s public work. His legacy is inseparable from his commitment to environmental conservation, the promotion of eco-tourism, youth empowerment, education, and HIV/AIDS awareness (Laudato Voices, 2026). King Oyo’s influence extended beyond cultural ceremonies; as a young traditional leader, he championed development-oriented causes and initiatives to improve the welfare of the people of Tooro. The proposed tree campaign aims to build on this legacy by encouraging communities to take scalable impactful action to protect their environment. The King emphasized the importance of environmental conservation, encouraging residents to plant more trees and respect nature. On 24 Jul 2019 the Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IX asked people of Tooro to “stop the act forthwith”. He lead as a role model having initiated a campaign of planting 10 million trees in the kingdom and once said

“We need to plant trees and stop encroaching on wetlands and forests in order to conserve the environment. By doing this we will combat drought that has been affecting us following massive destruction of wetlands and forests in the Kingdom and the country at large,”

The Laudato Youth Proposal

After analyzing the one million tree-planting initiative to be conducted during the nine days of mourning and reflecting on the legacy of a king who has served as a role model for young people, it is clear that planting one million trees should mean more than simply placing seedlings into the ground. True success lies in how many trees survive and mature. Therefore, people should be committed to nurturing and growing the trees; just as the king loved and cared for the people of Tooro, so too should they care for and nurture the trees, even naming them. It is proposed that each family grows a King Oyo tree, each village establish King Oyo boulevards, and the city of Fort Portal designate land for the King Oyo Memorial Gardens.

What we are going to do

During our upcoming Laudato Si Green Festival Program on Oct 10th in Fort Portal, we hope to align the Baragirakiki program with our Pre-event activities, which will include a community cleanup and encourage the people of Tooro to eliminate single-use plastics from their families, functions, gatherings, and public events. As a step forward in the region’s environmental conservation drive and helps build a lasting legacy for a king who envisioned an eco-tourism city. In a symbolic and practical gesture, the people of Tooro would be encouraged to use traditional family water pots to preserve their culture and reduce excessive use of hard plastics; organizations can adopt dispensers; and individuals, schools, universities, and youth should use reusable bottles for their individual use and at all future gatherings. Using a plastic bottle to honor King Oyo with the Laudato Youth Initiative decision of embracing both a moral and ecological action imperative.

During the Laudato Si Green Festival, we will reflect on the encyclical’s central message: that “everything is connected” and individual actions matter in healing the planet. For the Laudato Youth in the Tooro Region this year, our festival will lead us to pray for our late king and emulate his example by planting trees with a plan for their growth, showcasing creative eco-innovations for sustainability, and launching a youth-led media campaign. This campaign will be supported by our existing Laudato Si Clubs across Tooro, which we can mobilize to call others in Tooro to join.

Empowered to take a leadership role

We will explore a creative idea to mobilize cooperative companies in Fort Portal to help us build green eco spaces and bus stops for student bus pickups to different schools, creating a safe environment for children and youth while also promoting a clean environment! These stops can serve as education centers with visuals and information that promote care for the environment, as desired by our fallen king. Join us with ideas, or reach out to the Laudato Youth Initiative as we champion this joint initiative to create a lasting symbol of our commitment to a greener Tooro and youth engagement, as our fallen king desired.

Last but not least, think of how we can empower youth to build a sustainable future!

For the initiative to have a lasting impact, communities would need to select appropriate tree species, identify suitable planting areas, protect young seedlings, and establish systems to monitor and maintain them. Schools, cultural institutions, farmers, youth organizations, local governments, religious institutions and civil society groups could all play a role. We want to champion this; you can join us if you are a well-wisher who wants to think with us as we plan to promote the ecological legacy of King Oyo and enhance the impact of Laudato Si Clubs in the region that now mobilizes youth in different schools to unite for climate action.

Turning Mourning Into Action to create a lasting impact and a lasting memory.

The proposed tree-planting campaign could bring a new dimension to the nine-day mourning period by transforming grief into collective action. We are confident that the people of Tooro will use this initiative to establish a network of community forests, school trees, agroforestry projects, and restored landscapes dedicated to the memory of King Oyo. Each participating community could plant trees in locations meaningful to its people. Schools could encourage students to plant and care for trees. Farmers should be encouraged to integrate suitable trees into their agricultural systems, while local governments could identify degraded public spaces for restoration. In this way, the campaign could become more than a one-time mourning activity and evolve into a long-term environmental program that upholds King Oyo’s name and values. Especially as it can be used to activate his 10 million trees campaign where the king aimed at combating drought that has been affecting the Kingdom following massive destruction of wetlands teaching the people of Tooro that work is a divine gift from God, and we should use our creativity to care for His creation and add value to our common home. Chimp Reported him saying

“I encourage all people of Tooro and Uganda at large to join in the tree planting campaign so that we can save the environment as well as conserve it”.

A Living Memorial for Future Generations

The nine days of mourning will come to a close. Funeral ceremonies will conclude, the royal family will proceed with succession arrangements, and Tooro will begin a new chapter under a new Omukama. However, the trees planted in King Oyo’s honor will continue to grow for decades.

A child who plants a tree during the mourning period could return many years later to see it fully grown. That child might one day bring their own children to the same spot, sharing the story of King Oyo and the time when the people of Tooro planted trees in his memory. Amata Gatikire, but a legacy will continue to grow.

The proposed one-million-tree campaign could become one of the most enduring ways for the people of Tooro to honor King Oyo, not only through mourning, but by investing in the environment and future generations. As Tooro mourns its King, planting trees sends a message of renewal: from loss comes life, from mourning comes hope, and from memory grows a legacy. Omukama Atulize. Enkuba Etutire.

About King Oyo, A King Who Grew With His People

King Oyo’s story was remarkable from the outset. He ascended the throne at age three, becoming one of the world’s youngest and most renowned monarchs. His enthronement as a child attracted international attention, and his coming of age was closely observed both within Uganda and internationally (Muhumuza, 2026).

Upon assuming full responsibility at age 18, King Oyo entered a new chapter of his reign. Over the years, he emerged as a prominent cultural figure in Uganda and an enduring symbol of Tooro identity (Smith, 2024). Uganda’s traditional monarchies do not wield political authority like sovereign monarchies. Rather, their influence is predominantly cultural and social. Nonetheless, traditional leaders remain vital custodians of history, culture, and community identity (Okello, 2025; Muhumuza, 2026). King Oyo’s passing, therefore, signifies not only the loss of an individual but also a pivotal moment in the ongoing history of the Tooro Kingdom (Kagaba & Nsubuga, 2026).

References

Ashaba, A. (2026, August 28). Inside Museveni and King Oyo’s three decades of a royal-state relationship. Daily Monitor.
Kagaba, J., & Nsubuga, E. (2026). The Legacy of King Oyo: Leadership and Culture in Tooro. Kampala: Uganda Heritage Press.
Muhumuza, D. (2026). Monarchies in Modern Uganda. Makerere University Press.
Muhumuza, R. (2026, August 28). Oyo Nyimba, Ugandan ‘boy king’ who mesmerized world leaders, dies at 34. Associated Press.
Okello, P. (2025). Tradition and Identity in Uganda’s Kingdoms. Journal of African Studies, 42(3), 201–219.
Smith, L. (2024). Young Monarchs: Leadership and Identity. African Royalty Review, 15(2), 45–56.
Tooro Kingdom. (2026, August 28). Official announcement on the passing of His Majesty the Omukama of Tooro.
Waswa, S. (2026, August 28). King Oyo succession: Chief Prince summons emergency meeting at Karuziika Palace. Pulse Uganda.