Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the King of Toro in western Uganda, has died at age 34, the kingdom's prime minister announced.
The monarch gained international attention when he ascended to the throne in 1995 at just three years old, making him the youngest reigning king in the world at the time.
"It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that I announce the passing of His Majesty, the King of Toro," said the kingdom's prime minister, Calvin Armstrong Ruhemera Akiiki. According to the announcement, the king died on Thursday around 10:00 p.m., though no cause of death was provided. Shortly before the official statement, a Ugandan government minister had indicated that the king was receiving medical treatment in the United States.
Rukidi IV was crowned on September 12, 1995, following his father's death. Toro is a traditional kingdom in western Uganda, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. While Uganda itself is a republic, meaning traditional monarchs hold no significant political power, they maintain considerable cultural and social influence in their regions.
"This is an immeasurable loss," the local prime minister said. The king's death has triggered a wave of mourning throughout Uganda.
