King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV began experiencing health problems in mid-2025 with what appeared to be minor back pain before doctors later diagnosed him with an aggressive form of cancer, Queen Mother Best Kemigisha has said.
In a speech read on her behalf during the burial of the Tooro monarch at St John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal on Saturday, September 12, the Queen Mother said the King first felt pain around his back and left rib cage in June or July 2025.
She said the late King initially linked the pain to his regular gym sessions and intense workouts and did not consider it serious.
“When the pain persisted, the King sought medical attention at The Surgery Hospital, Naguru, where an X-ray was done but did not find anything,” the speech said.
The King later underwent two weeks of outpatient physiotherapy at the same hospital, but the pain continued. An orthopaedic surgeon then recommended an MRI scan, which was carried out at Ruby Hospital in Kampala but also did not reveal the cause of the problem.
After the Empango celebrations on September 12, 2025, the King travelled to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, in November, where a PET scan detected angiosarcoma, an aggressive type of cancer that spreads quickly.
The Queen Mother said she returned from Nairobi and informed President Yoweri Museveni about the King’s condition. The President then helped facilitate further treatment abroad.
The King travelled to Germany, where he was treated at Thoraxklinik in Heidelberg and later Krankenhaus Salem. Doctors confirmed the diagnosis and started chemotherapy in November 2025, which continued until February 2026.
However, the cancer remained aggressive, leading doctors to move him to the United States for further treatment.
The King was admitted to Dallas Medical Center and later Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Texas, where his condition improved significantly.
The Queen Mother said the King remained hopeful and continued carrying out his responsibilities despite his illness.
“He was eating well, talking coherently, and prayed regularly,” the speech said.
She added that the King remained in contact with Omikirwa and palace officials, giving instructions on the management of kingdom affairs.
Why Tooro Prime Minister was not told
The Queen Mother also explained why Tooro Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki was not informed about the King’s medical condition.
She said the King chose to keep his illness private and personally directed the Prime Minister to tell the kingdom that he was in the United States on a working visit and for studies.
“It is also true that the Prime Minister was not aware of the King’s medical condition. The King wished to maintain his medical condition private,” the speech said.
The Queen Mother said the King continued communicating with palace staff, security personnel and his Private Principal Secretary Jonathan Baguma while receiving treatment abroad.
She said his condition remained stable until Thursday, August 27, 2026, when his health suddenly deteriorated.
The King was placed on life support, but doctors failed to revive him. He was pronounced dead at 4pm US time at the age of 34.
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