STATEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF TOORO Fellow Batooro, friends of Tooro and all those who mourn with us, As we prepare to receive His Majesty the Omukama and ultimately lay our King to rest, I appeal to every Mutooro to conduct ourselves with the dignity, restraint and decorum befitting this solemn moment. We have lost our King. We have lost a son of Tooro whose life, leadership and service carried the name of our Kingdom far beyond our borders. At this moment, our responsibility is not to allow disagreements, speculation or competing narratives to define these final days. Our responsibility is to protect His Majesty’s memory, honour his legacy and give him the dignified farewell he deserves. Moments like these require leadership, not posturing. They require less talking and more organising. We are all grieving and emotions are understandably high, but leadership requires us to rise above those emotions, lead by example and never lose sight of the bigger picture. The world is watching us, but more importantly, the people of Tooro are looking to us for leadership. How we conduct ourselves during this difficult period reflects on all Batooro. Let us therefore demonstrate the values for which our people are known: dignity, respect, unity and love for our Kingdom. I am aware that questions have been raised regarding some of the circumstances surrounding His Majesty’s time abroad and the communication around it. I wish to clarify one matter respectfully. The information communicated to the public that His Majesty was abroad studying, and subsequently that he was well, was communicated in accordance with His Majesty’s express wishes and direction. As someone serving him, it was my responsibility to respect his wishes and protect his privacy. I did so faithfully and respectfully. I am also confident that His Majesty acted in good faith. He was confident in his recovery and was looking forward to returning home and reuniting with his people for the 31st Empango. He did not want to cause unnecessary alarm among his people. Other matters have also been raised. This is neither the time nor the place to debate them. They must not be allowed to create division, controversy or distract us from the enormous responsibility before us. There will be a proper time and forum, after His Majesty has been laid to rest, to address any matters that require clarification. For now, everything else is secondary. I therefore appeal especially to Kingdom leaders, cultural leaders, public officials, the media, commentators and everyone using social media to exercise restraint. Words spoken in moments of grief can deepen divisions that may take years to repair. Let us choose words and actions that unite the Batooro and reflect the dignity of the Kingdom. I also appeal for privacy and respect for the Royal Family and those who were closest to His Majesty. Their grief is deeply personal, and they must be given the space to mourn without intrusion, unnecessary speculation or pressure to speak. Their privacy and dignity should be respected throughout this difficult period. Our duty now is simple: to receive our King with honour, lay him to rest with dignity, and stand together as one people. Future generations will remember not only that Tooro lost its King, but also how we conducted ourselves in this moment of grief. Let them remember a people who chose unity over division, service over posturing, and leadership over controversy. Until His Majesty has been laid to rest, let us remain united and focused on giving him the peaceful and honourable farewell he deserves. In all that we say and do, Tooro must come first.