There was excitement in Fort Portal town today when Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru arrived in the kingdom. Dressed in black jeans trousers and a T-shirt, Oyo moved out of his car at Mpanga Market and started walking to the centre of the town, waving to his subjects who had lined up along the streets of Fort Portal.
King Oyo, who was led by a procession of boda boda motorists, was welcomed by school children and residents who clapped their hands and sang the Tooro Kingdom anthem. Traders moved out of their shops to have a glimpse of the King who has been away from the Kingdom for two years.
When King Oyo waved to the people, they also responded, while others clapped their hands. The King’s escorts struggled to stop people from getting closer to him. Feeling tired, King Oyo wanted to enter his vehicle, but his Mother Best Kemigisa and some Tooro Kingdom officials requested him to continue walking.
Some of the subjects who were standing alongside the road were heard saying ‘Omukama Akuzire’ meaning the King has grown, while others shouted ‘Hangiriza, Hangiriza’, literally meaning, Long Live Your Majesty. When he reached at Balya road, King Oyo entered his car, but this couldn’t stop the school children from following his convoy.
At some point his car had to stop as pupils scrambled to greet him through the window. The king then proceeded to his palace, and was welcomed by school children and Tooro Kingdom officials.
At the palace, children from more than five schools in Fort Portal, lined up to prostrate in front of him. Fred Mugamba, a resident of Fort Portal said that he is happy to have a glimpse of the King after more than ten years. He says that the Kingdom officials should allow the King to often interact with his subjects.
//Cue in: “This is good…
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King Oyo arrived in the country three weeks ago from the United Kingdom, where he is pursuing his studies, but he has been staying at his palace at Munyonyo in Kampala.
