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King Oyo being welcomed in London by the Batooro Community residing in and around the UK
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The Omukama of Toro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV, has rallied the Batoro in the diaspora to support the kingdom’s ambitious 25-year development plan.
He made the appeal while addressing members of the Toro UK Association in London on Sunday during the first Empaako Festival.
“We invite you and other partners to join with the kingdom in implementing projects like hotels, an airport, and the development of our potential cultural sites, including our royal tombs,” Oyo said.
Yesterday, the Omukama met with potential investors in London in a bid to persuade them to invest in his kingdom.
The development plan, which Oyo launched recently, gives the kingdom strategic direction on the priorities of the royal institution in the future.
He revealed that the kingdom is keen on agriculture and has set up demonstration farms to train youth and other farmers on modern farming methods.
Flanked by Kingdom officials, the Omukama briefed his subjects that the kingdom has embarked on an aggressive campaign to encourage more coffee production.
“We are distributing coffee seedlings to organised groups of farmers and are setting up nursery beds to provide seedlings to farmers at all times,” Oyo said.
He revealed that they were also putting up silos to help stabilise the market for coffee farmers.
“We are encouraging our farmers to bring their coffee to one place in order to help establish stable markets internationally. I therefore call upon all of you and friends of Toro to interest yourself in this very critical venture,” he said.
On the tourism front, he revealed plans to put up hospitality centres across Toro.
These centres, Omukama said, will be hubs for training young people in aspects of hospitality and tourism.
Omukama Oyo adressing the Batooro Community residing in and around the UK organised under the Batooro UK Association
He said other initiatives in place, like the Ekyoto Ha Mpango, have greatly promoted tourism and culture.
“The global cultural tourism market was valued at $30b in 2023. With proper planning and deliberate efforts, we can tap into this," he said.
Oyo informed his audience that the kingdom is supplementing the government in various health aspects like health and surgical camps, HIV fight campaigns, and addressing malnutrition, among others.
“We have allocated land for the construction of medical facilities, and we also invite partners on this front,” he said.
On education, he said; “Our focus is on skilling to support our young people to acquire skills that will enable them to have productive lives. We started the youth and innovation centre a couple of years ago, and we train youth in carpentry, tailoring, wielding, and performing arts, among others.”
The Omukama expressed gratitude to the Toro UK Association for their invitation and warm hospitality.
“I am delighted to be here. Accept warm regards from the royal family, from your sisters and brothers and sisters from Toro," he said.
He implored them not to forget about their roots. "A people without knowledge of their past origin, heritage, and culture is like a tree without roots. I am sure this association of people has roots. I wish to rally all of you to create more roots back home, and I pledge to support and embrace your projects," he assured.
The association members expressed gratitude to the king for honouring their invitation and updating them on the kingdom’s development initiatives.
“We welcome you all to this auspicious occasion, particularly because it is the first time we hold Empaako Festival in the UK, and with you in attendance, it is a memorable day, and the Toro UK Association will not take your visit for granted,” Drake Gahwerrah Mugisa, the association chairperson, said.
The association was first formed as a charity organisation under the name Toro Community Welfare and Development Association in 1995. Also in attendance was Rose Nyakabwa Amooti, the key founder. Others were Luke Kwamye, Sam Rusoke, Daisy Byaruhanga from Bunyoro, Ronald Ainebyoona from Bunyoro, Stella Asiimwe, Charles Musana, and Nelson Gerald Amooti.
