Paul Businge Nyakaana, the Principle Personal Secretary (PPS) for the Omukama of Tooro, His Majesty Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I has confirmed that there will be an annual birthday run to celebrate the birthday of Omukama Nyabongo I in December of every year and all the proceeds from the run are towards building the King Oyo Cancer Hospital.
While speaking to our reporter on Monday, November 2nd, 2026, Nyakaana said that it has been agreed that the run will happen this December 19th, 2026, adding that for this year, the kit will go for as low as UGX 30,000, which will include a vest, an open cap and a water bottle. He further highlighted that the run will be in three categories of 21km, 10km and 5 km.
“The King’s birthday is on December 16th but since it’s a weekday, we decided to have the run on Saturday over the weekend, and we are going to have our birthday run on December 19th, 2026, and the kit will cost as low as UGX 30,000 so that we can accommodate all our people even those with average incomes. We are very hopeful that many will attend and for those who can’t run will be able to walk. Our run will start from the palace (Karuzika) and after we will host all people to a luncheon, ” Nyakaana said.
Nyakana also noted that the official launch of the birthday run will be on Saturday, November 7th, 2026, at a place where the king would have chosen to build the hospital, adding that religious leaders will be the patrons for the organizing committee for the upcoming birthday run and the others to come.
The establishment of King Oyo Cancer Hospital is in Memory of King Oyo who died of angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of soft tissue cancer, in August 2026.
King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Tooro died in the United States on August 27th, 2026, at the age of 34, after receiving medical treatment for cancer. In September 2026, the current King Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I also lost his big brother, Prince David Kijjanangoma, to throat cancer at the age of 57 years.
With the establishment of the cancer hospital in Tooro Kingdom, residents hope to benefit from early diagnosis, timely treatment and improved palliative treatment for those in last stages.
