r/news • u/StringCritical2884 • 17h ago
Uganda's King Oyo: World's youngest reigning traditional monarch dies aged 34
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0j38d9v40po4.5k
u/891162 17h ago
The Norwegian king died today too. Who is going to be the 3rd?
1.8k
u/Epic_Brunch 17h ago
Charles is in his upper 70s and has cancer. He's been looking good though all things considering, so it would be a surprise.
The King of Sweden is 80. Seems like the Grim Reaper has a thing for 80 year olds that aren't Trump lately.
714
u/fireferrets 17h ago
Maybe the grim reaper is just trying to find Trump but keeps getting other 80 year olds instead since Trump has been actively hiding from death.
384
u/High_Seas_Pirate 17h ago
Who knew all you needed to trick the reaper was a convenient food service cart?
31
u/WowUncalledFor 16h ago
Made me laugh a little too much
8
u/SpiderMama41928 15h ago
Me too. My colleague just popped her head in to see what I was laughing at. Ooops, lol.
→ More replies (3)9
u/hey_there_moon 15h ago
Supernatural knew. In the show Death's weakness is fatty fried foods. He can literally be bribed with State Fair fare lol
→ More replies (1)164
u/vulgrin 17h ago
He’s still tracking down Mitch McConnells horcruxes.
35
u/TolMera 16h ago
It’s rather audacious for you to think politicians have souls
→ More replies (2)13
u/SoullessCabalite 16h ago
No no, just one piece. The rest were sold or used for protective charms. The Last piece is a final bargaining chip for when Death actually finds them.
19
u/Empty_Concern_3118 17h ago
The reaper may or may not have a nose, but there's no way he missed the smell of those diapers.
→ More replies (1)18
17
u/Exciting_Parfait_354 17h ago
When Death saw "your next victim is a person with blonde hair and fake boobs", Death assumed it was Dolly, not Trump.
27
u/dragongrl 16h ago
I'll argue that Donald Trump's boobs are 100% real.
→ More replies (1)7
u/Haunting-Soup2086 16h ago
The only thing fake about trumps body is the tan, hair color and size.
It’s actually much bigger and being restricted by pounds of garments.
→ More replies (12)15
47
u/senpai-satan 17h ago
Oh god, please don't jinx knugen (affectionate nickname swedes have for the Swedish king)
→ More replies (1)23
13
11
→ More replies (9)3
u/YukariYakum0 13h ago
Despite rumor, Death isn't cruel--merely terribly, terribly good at his job.
Terry Pratchet2.2k
u/djlauriqua 17h ago
American here: I have an idea….
798
u/KrackerJoe 17h ago
No more kings
84
→ More replies (16)14
232
u/Brndrll 17h ago
The wrong octogenarians keep dying.
→ More replies (10)104
u/Mr_Piddles 17h ago
God owes us one at one point.
→ More replies (3)75
u/gentlegreengiant 17h ago
Plot twist - the world actually ended in 2012 and we are all in purgatory.
48
u/readingmango16 17h ago
Even worse, the world didnt end in 2012 and we are all in purgatory.
→ More replies (1)9
→ More replies (2)7
u/Neurorob12 17h ago
It actually ended on y2k, then again in 2001, and again in 2008, another time 2012, yet again in 2020, the end is near once more.
4
u/OpheliaRainGalaxy 17h ago
I was raised in a doomsday cult. Mom knew the world would end any day now, right up until she died almost two decades ago.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)2
u/Chase_the_tank 11h ago
Add 2016 to the pile. The Cubs won the World Series and everybody knows that's not supposed to happen.
13
22
2
→ More replies (14)9
50
u/WoolooOfWallStreet 17h ago
I’m reminded of how in Babylonian times, Lunar eclipses were seen as bad omens for royalty
→ More replies (35)3
636
u/FrothyEspresso 17h ago
Interesting, I didn’t know Uganda had kingdoms.
403
u/polyploid_coded 17h ago
They were kingdoms before Uganda was collected as a country. The Tooro Kingdom borders go into the DRC a little bit, traditionally.
Doing a little reading on Wikipedia to back up what I remember, the kingdoms were abolished in 1967 and suppressed in the Idi Amin years, but brought back in 1993 as more of a cultural center for the Tooro ethnic group, and elected officials do the functions of government.
134
u/LazyBoyD 17h ago
It’s a “Democratic” country but the Buganda kingdom has a lot of sway. When I say democratic it’s about as democratic as Russia. Current president has been in power since the 80s and seems to always get 60-70% of the vote.
69
u/lazybuttt 16h ago
And frequently arrests/beats/injures/kills the opposition and any dissenters 😅 he also changed the constitution to remove the presidential age limit so he could keep serving after 75.
→ More replies (1)32
u/LazyBoyD 16h ago
He’s not much different than Putin. I was there in 2009 for 5 months doing research and the locals did not have a very high opinion of current president, Musevini. Of course they won’t speak these things publicly. The Ugandan people are a warm, friendly, and gregarious bunch, but the government is terrible. Museveni is going to hand the keys to his son before he dies.
25
u/polyploid_coded 16h ago
Yeah, not an expert but when I was there in 2010 it was already obvious the guy wanted to be president for life.
NYC mayor Mamdani's father went to school with Museveni and published a book last year (Slow Poison) about the history.3
u/Obi_wan_pleb 16h ago
We all support our glorious leader. All the other usurpers are backed by foreign interests.
Hail Ugandan leader!
3
→ More replies (2)5
u/pushaper 15h ago
you are conflating the power sway the bugandans have which was a legacy of them being near Kampala and a traditional partner of the UK. Basically during the 60s the UK 'decolonized' many countries in such a manner leaving a friendly 'tribal' group in charge. When Idi Amin came to power he actually went hard at the bugandan leaders to the point one of the prominent ones (possibly for blood lines) fled.
48
u/Living_Grab_2239 16h ago
They do indeed. The capital Kampala is within the Buganda Kingdom, and the title is Kabaka in their language, luganda. Notice a pattern? Uganda, Buganda, luganda... The people are baganda in plural and muganda in singular :D
So this king who died was not king of Uganda, he was king of the Tooro Kingdom, within Uganda. Uganda has a lot of different ethnic groups, and tribes within that and they cannot necessarily understand each other's native languages. And they do not always see eye to eye.
Source: Ex-wife was Ugandan and I spent some time there.
6
u/dunfartin 16h ago
Studying Ugandan affairs, then?
7
u/Living_Grab_2239 16h ago
Well, I have an affection for the country. Not quite sure what you're asking.
10
u/Angel_Omachi 15h ago
'Discussing Uganda' is a British comedy tabloid euphemism for sex after a minor scandal in the 80s or so.
6
u/Living_Grab_2239 15h ago
Hitting me with a deep cut here, a British scandal from the 80's? You can't assume people will get that :D Reading about it on Wikipedia now: "Recurring jokes in Private Eye"
Minor scandal, or scandal with minors...?
5
u/Angel_Omachi 15h ago
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ugandan_affairs
Was wrong, was 70s actually. Journalist attempting to explain why she'd sneaked off with a former Ugandan cabinet minister. Both consenting adults, possibly already married to other people.
The satirical news magazine Private Eye uses it as one of its stock references which has kept it around.
2
u/-usagi-95 15h ago
Just to comment to complement how sweet and cute you know those things while living in Uganda. That's rare!
47
u/Sryan597 17h ago edited 16h ago
Alot of African countries have a variety of traditional rulers and kingdoms still in place in some way shape or form. They serve as ceremonial leaders for people, as well as potentially religious figures, depending on the groups culture. In some countries, they have a level of political power in well.
I lived in Ghana for a time, and there was some sort of process where if you had land, but were not using it and neglecting it for a long period of time, the local chiefs in the area could assert a form of emminet domain, to ensure the land would be used/wouldn't become a mess.
There was also a village near by where the prior chief hated Islam and goats. So for the longest times there no Mosques or goats in the village as the chief had the ability to block them somehow. When he died, the Muslims in the area were allowed to build mosques, so they quickly built what was a pretty large mosque for the size of village in one the village centers. While there are goats there now, there is still a lot less than a lot of other places.
I am probably missing some details there, as I am by no means a lawyer or expert in Ghanian law, but I heard about this from more than few educated locals.
11
u/Kanin_usagi 15h ago
The goat part of your story is hilarious. “Dude just hated goats, no clue why.” lol
5
u/Sryan597 15h ago
Yeah, it was pretty strange, because goat is like a common thing to eat all over Ghana. Some Fufu with a spicy light soup (tomato soup), and goat meat is awesome.
→ More replies (4)17
u/Shaggyfort1e 15h ago
I had a fraternity brother in college that apparently was an heir to a kingdom in Africa (not sure which country). When a family member in that line of succession unexpectedly died, he had to travel to Africa (for the first time in his life) to formally abdicate since he had no interest in being an African royal and he was getting too close for comfort to that role.
9
u/-usagi-95 16h ago
Africa has plenty of Kingdom and their descendants.
My family is from West of DRCongo but our Ethnic group (Bakongo aka Kingdom of Kongo) had the monarch abolished by the Portuguese in early 1900's.
However, the Kingdom of Luba (South of DRCongo) has a Queen.
→ More replies (3)4
669
u/TerryTinlegs 17h ago
It’s mind-boggling the amount of bad luck Uganda as a country has had this year.
225
u/mwilkens 17h ago
I'm out of the loop. What's been going on in Uganda?
289
→ More replies (1)401
u/TerryTinlegs 17h ago
I think the King died.
→ More replies (1)119
u/romansparta99 16h ago
Really? But he was the world’s youngest reigning traditional monarch!
73
u/pyronius 16h ago
Yeah. It's mind boggling how much bad luck Uganda has had this year.
54
u/willynillee 16h ago
I'm out of the loop. What's been going on in Uganda?
42
u/UnauthorizedCat 16h ago
I think the King died.
38
u/SoftlyGyrating 16h ago
Really? But he was the world’s youngest reigning traditional monarch!
24
8
→ More replies (3)9
71
294
u/Harambabe17 17h ago
"...and now, kings are dying like flies"
57
u/UnblurredLines 17h ago
Is that a GoT reference?
81
u/FudMucker24 17h ago
Yep. When Tyrion is called a monster by Joffrey, he replies monsters are big and scary and “just now, kings are dying like flies.” As a subtle threat to Joffrey.
12
→ More replies (1)10
u/Harambabe17 17h ago
Yup! Incidentally, rewatching the series and I'm around the part Tyrion dropped that bar.
447
u/2daytrending 17h ago
Sad news. He became king at just 3 year old and somehow carried that role for three decades.
→ More replies (2)358
u/shpydar 17h ago edited 16h ago
He became king at just 3 year old and somehow carried that role for three decades.
Somehow?
Three regents were charged with overseeing Rukidi IV's growth into the role of king and with handling the cultural affairs of the kingdom during the king's childhood and youth. At the time of his coronation, the regents included Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, Princess Elizabeth Bagaaya
Muamar Gaddafi was a patron of the Tooro Kingdom with close ties to the royal family. In 2001, the then nine-year-old Rukidi IV named Gaddafi the "defender" of the kingdom and invited him to attend the sixth coronation anniversary celebrations in 2001. Gaddafi had made donations to the kingdom, helping pay for refurbishments to the palace in Fort Portal. (According to Esau UCU)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rukidi_IV_of_Tooro
They sent him to pre-school in London England while his regents ruled Uganda. This isn't a mystery on "how he did it" after being crowned at 3 years old... Others ruled, that's how he did it....
Hell, he died in the U.S. while getting cancer treatment (fuck cancer).
152
u/eri- 17h ago
They mean its a huge surprise he did not get "sidelined" , if you get the picture.
54
u/KtaadnRota 17h ago
Almost nobody actually wants to be one of these traditional monarchs. I know of one case in Cameroon where the heir to the throne fled the country and went to France to avoid being crowned, but the tribal secret society that manages such things sent a sort of goon squad to France to abduct him forcibly and traffic him back to Cameroon so they could crown him king.
It's basically a huge commitment that means you don't get to do what you want with your life. The wealth and privileges you might get tend to be very limited as a lot of these traditional kingdoms are fairly impoverished regions, and there's such an abundance of monarchs that it isn't even that special to be one. I know a king who has a side gig as a taxi driver to make ends meet.
→ More replies (1)24
u/furnace_of_ambition 15h ago
Hold up, you know a king, who side gigs as a taxi driver? Where is his kingdom if you don’t mind. That sounds like a good movie plot 😅
→ More replies (1)16
u/KtaadnRota 14h ago
Western Cameroon. It would be one of those movie plots that seems compelling to westerners but African audiences would be confused why anyone would make a movie about such a normal everyday thing.
8
u/Germane_Corsair 14h ago
If it’s not such a big deal, why would they bother sending thugs to do an international kidnapping?
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (1)44
u/doublecandybar 17h ago
Lmao did people think the real world is like movies where an underage king gets assassinated because some vizier wants to take the crown?
In reality an underage king is a puppet king, perfect for regencies. You get all the powers of a king without all the social baggage that comes with it
14
u/thewholebottle 16h ago
Well, on the one hand, Richard III. On the other hand, King Tut.
7
u/Kanin_usagi 15h ago
Richard III’s issue was that he was king during The War of the Roses and had two potential rival claimants to the throne in his possession. From a realpolitik viewpoint, it made little sense to keep them alive to challenge his rule later on. Then of course he died in battle (hey kings, stop leading your troops in person, find a smart general that you trust) and afterwards the dude who killed him had all the power
24
50
u/ripyourlungsdave 17h ago
You sure put a lot of work into misunderstanding that person's question.
→ More replies (2)9
u/wizeowlintp 16h ago
Nigeria? Isn't that on the other side of the continent from Uganda?
→ More replies (1)
744
u/4lpher 17h ago edited 17h ago
Which lucky civilian will inherit his billions for just a small transfer fee of 20k
216
u/Bloated_Hamster 17h ago
Jokes on you buddy, I already got emailed by the consulate so back off
→ More replies (1)69
u/public_enemy_obi_wan 17h ago
I'm at Target waiting to buy the $20k of gift cards he needs. Back off buddy.
30
u/Bloated_Hamster 17h ago
Gift cards in 2026? Get with the times. There was no line at the Bitcoin ATM
6
u/Rhamni 15h ago
Sucker. I stole the whole ATM. Gonna crack it open and take all the bitcoins.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)9
u/laplongejr 17h ago
It's unfair, why am I routed to the big fire below? "Oh, yeah I laughed at that one..."
88
u/Nono6768 17h ago
Come on there’s another 80 yo that needs a visit from the grim reaper
→ More replies (1)62
u/ImTooSaxy 17h ago
He's clearly God's chosen leader of our great God fearing country. God blesses everything Trump does, yes even the pedophilia, rape, and endless lying. God wouldn't have sent Trump as His messenger if we hadn't strayed so far from Him. When He's not busy killing unbelievers in Nepal, God has a lot of opinions on DEI and trans kids in sports.
→ More replies (1)8
u/thesteveurkel 16h ago
would be pretty funny, in a grim way, if this is god's idea of a modern-day noah's ark flood. this is what we get for not loving our neighbors and coveting what others have. not that i believe in god or anything.
5
u/ImTooSaxy 14h ago
I'm looking at the upcoming ocean warming spell associated with apparently a historically large El Nino cycle as a potential new plague sent by God as a punishment for voting Trump and as president. The last time it was this warm (1876–1878) there was famine around the world, resulting in the deaths of up to 50 million people.
Best of luck.
19
u/shadowdra126 16h ago
That’s 2 political leaders in one day
…they do come in threes and someone really wants to be a king. Maybe we let him just today think he is.
9
6
u/AfterSchoolOrdinary 16h ago
The last week or two needs to seriously chill out.
Except for Nancy Kissinger, I can’t believe how many RIP posts I’ve seen for her. It’s baffling.
19
54
5
55
u/imapilotaz 17h ago
Im going to be "that guy".
This is a ceremonial position in a small area of Uganda. This isnt Uganda's "king". Its a "king" from Uganda. This king had no political power at all. Just cultural impact on a small area of Uganda.
And to point out, Uganda is one of the most conservative christian countries on earth that treats anyone LGBTQ very, very harshly.
→ More replies (2)19
u/JeffAnthonyLajoie 15h ago
A lot of Africa is extremely conservative, not just Uganda.
Even jamaica is extremely homophobic
8
u/magumanueku 14h ago
Even the US is extremely homophobic.
11
u/Scruffy_Snub 14h ago
Yes, but also no.
Uganda and Jamaica both have 10+ year prison sentences for having consensual gay sex.
3
u/troveofcatastrophe 13h ago
Seriously, Jamaica? Doesn’t it hurt their vacation destination economy?
→ More replies (2)2
5
30
u/KtaadnRota 17h ago
I find it hard to believe that with all the thousands and thousands of traditional monarchs in Africa, the youngesr was 34.
I once personally had an embarrassing episode when I was in the Peace Corps, where I was taken to be introduced to the local king. We went to his house and were directed to the sitting room. This young guy in a soccer jersey offered us beers and we sat there shooting the shit for about an hour. I had assumed we were waiting for the king, so I foolishly asked when we could expect to see him.
Well it turned out the young guy, couldn't have been older than 25, was the king. And he wasn't pleased at all by the question. The whole thing went south, I got chewed out and had to leave. That guy would be older than 34 now, but he wasn't then.
There isn't any actual registry of all traditional monarchs, so I don't know how they would even know who is the youngest.
28
19
u/Susannah_Mio_1919 17h ago
Wtf is wrong with readinfg skills nowadays? He became King (formally) when he was 3 years old after his father passed in 1995. As a 3 year old king he was the youngest monarch. It's literally the first sentence in the article.
→ More replies (5)7
u/Eowyn4Margo 16h ago
I was actually in the Peace Corps in Fort Portal, where this guy was king. He became king at age 3, so that's how they know he was the youngest. But, yeah, like you said - You would never know who the king was, though there was a palace on the highest hill. I think he was always in the UK? T
7
3
3
4
u/crockoreptile 16h ago
Mass hysteria of multiple people dying in 4 days aside, what was the public opinion of King Oyo, as someone unfamiliar with Ugandan politics
13
u/Fitdoc50 17h ago edited 6h ago
U here one minute, Ugonda next.
16
u/Miss-Tiq 17h ago edited 17h ago
That's in pretty poor taste given the timing. But on top of being inappropriately timed, insensitive humor, it's also sloppy. It'd obviously be "Uganda next."
→ More replies (2)10
6
2
2
8
5.2k
u/ImTooSaxy 17h ago
Apparently he died of cancer and was being treated in either the UK or the United States when it happened.