His Majesty Oyo Rukidi IV, who became the “world’s youngest king” when he was crowned in 1995, has died at the age of 34, the prime minister of his traditional kingdom in western Uganda announced.

The Toro (or Tooro) region, located between Uganda and the former Zaire at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, is one of five kingdoms symbolically recognized by President Yoweri Museveni. These monarchies have no political powers beyond cultural authority, but they nevertheless retain considerable political influence.

Oyo Rukidi IV officially succeeded his father at the age of 3 after his father died of a heart attack in 1995. He assumed full royal duties upon reaching adulthood in 2010. In 2025, he was also recognized by the Guinness World Records as the “youngest reigning monarch.”

The kingdom’s prime minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, announced late Thursday evening that the king had died, expressing his sorrow over an “immeasurable loss for the royal family, the people of Tooro and Uganda.”

Earlier in the day, the kingdom had announced that the king was in critical condition in the United States and had appealed for calm. According to sources close to the family, he had been hospitalized with cancer.

The king was unmarried, according to the prime minister, but leaves behind a crown prince. The existence of the heir was not previously known to the public, but his identity will be revealed in accordance with tradition, he explained.

“I call on the people of Tooro to remain united, calm and prayerful during this difficult time,” he said.

The Tooro royal family had close ties to former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Africa has only three sovereign monarchies — Eswatini, Lesotho and Morocco — while other countries recognize traditional kingdoms as cultural institutions without political authority.

At least one of these, in Nigeria, is reportedly headed by a minor.