An unfamous self-styled “Man of God” has reportedly made a dramatic claim that he can raise the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV from the dead.

The extraordinary statement comes at a time when Tooro Kingdom and Uganda as a whole are mourning the death of the young monarch, whose passing has generated widespread grief and tributes.

The unnamed preacher is said to have claimed that King Oyo can be brought back to life through his spiritual powers. The claim has attracted attention because King Oyo’s death has already been formally announced by the Tooro Kingdom, with his body returned to Uganda ahead of burial ceremonies.

Any claim that he can be raised from the dead is therefore likely to generate intense public debate.

King Oyo, whose full traditional name was Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, was the Omukama of Tooro, one of Uganda’s historic traditional kingdoms.

He became king in 1995 following the death of his father, King Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, and immediately became internationally known because he was only three years old at the time.

His childhood accession made him one of the most famous young monarchs in the world. At just three years old, Oyo became the world’s youngest reigning monarch, attracting attention far beyond Uganda.

His early years on the throne were overseen by regents because he was too young to personally handle the full responsibilities of kingship.

Oyo eventually grew from the famous child king into an adult traditional leader who continued to represent Tooro and its cultural heritage.

Although Uganda’s traditional kings do not exercise constitutional political power, they retain considerable cultural and social importance among their communities.

Over the years, King Oyo became a familiar figure in Uganda and internationally. His unusual story of becoming a monarch at the age of three remained one of the defining features of his public life, while his later years were marked by efforts to participate in the development and promotion of Tooro.

The late king was also involved in social and humanitarian causes. Reuters reported that he served as a United Nations ambassador advocating against HIV and AIDS, adding to his profile beyond the traditional institution of the Tooro monarchy.

King Oyo died on August 27, 2026, at the age of 34. He had been receiving medical treatment in the United States before his death, and the news shocked many Ugandans because details about the seriousness of his condition had largely remained private.

President Yoweri Museveni later revealed that the late king had been battling aggressive cancer. According to reports, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa had informed the President about her son’s serious condition months before his death, after which government support was provided for his medical treatment abroad.

Reports indicate that King Oyo received treatment in different countries before eventually dying in the United States. His illness was not widely known to the public, which contributed to the shock that followed the announcement of his death at only 34 years of age.

The King’s death brought an end to a reign that had lasted nearly 31 years. He had spent almost his entire life associated with the Tooro throne, first as a child monarch and later as an adult who had grown into the responsibilities and expectations attached to the institution.

Also read: Lango mourns Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV

Following his death, his body was flown back to Uganda on September 4, where it was received at Entebbe International Airport by President Museveni and other dignitaries.

The casket was draped in the Ugandan and Tooro flags before being transported to the kingdom for mourning ceremonies.

The Tooro Kingdom has announced mourning activities leading up to King Oyo’s burial. Reuters reported that his burial is scheduled for September 12, 2026, in the Tooro Kingdom, with the kingdom and his family preparing for the final ceremonies.

The death has also brought renewed attention to the question of succession within Tooro. Kingdom officials have said that King Oyo left behind an heir, although details concerning the succession have generated discussions among members of the royal family and others connected to the kingdom.

Against that emotional background, the reported claim by the self-styled Man of God has naturally attracted attention. To many people, the idea of bringing back a deceased king is extraordinary, particularly because King Oyo’s death followed a serious illness and his body has already been returned to Uganda for burial.

The preacher’s claim, however, remains just that — a claim. There is no independently verified evidence that the man possesses the ability to raise a deceased person from the dead, and his statement should not be presented as an established fact.

Religious claims about miracles have historically attracted strong reactions, especially when they involve famous personalities or major national events. In this case, the claim concerns a traditional king whose death has touched thousands of people across Tooro and beyond, making the timing particularly sensitive.

For many people mourning King Oyo, the focus remains on remembering his life rather than on extraordinary claims about reversing his death.

He became king as a three-year-old, grew up under the world’s attention, eventually assumed adult responsibilities and remained an important cultural figure until his death at 34.

King Oyo’s life was therefore extraordinary from beginning to end. He inherited the Tooro throne as a toddler, became one of the world’s most recognised child monarchs, served his kingdom for decades and died at an age when many people would consider their own adult lives to be entering a mature stage.

As Uganda continues to mourn the late Omukama, the claim by the little-known Man of God is likely to remain a subject of discussion.

Whether his extraordinary declaration will lead to any further developments remains to be seen, but the confirmed facts remain that King Oyo died at 34 after battling aggressive cancer and that his remains have been returned to Uganda for burial.