The king died on Aug. 27 while receiving cancer treatment in the U.S., and his body was later transported back to Uganda

Thousands of people traveled to pay their respects to Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the world’s youngest reigning traditional monarch, more than two weeks after his death.

The king, who ruled the Bantu kingdom of Tooro in western Uganda, died at age 34 on Aug. 27 while receiving cancer treatment in the U.S. His body was returned to Uganda earlier this week for his funeral and burial at the Tooro Kingdom’s royal burial grounds, according to the BBC.Photos obtained by the outlet showed thousands of mourners gathered in the streets outside as his casket — which had the Tooro Kingdom’s flag draped over it — was transported to the burial grounds at St.

John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal on Saturday, Sept. 12.A procession of people dressed in black followed the casket, which was also guided by men in military uniforms and traditional clothing.

Mourners walked more than 6 miles with the procession to the site before the private ceremony began at the cathedral, where the king was once baptized, according to the BBC.Rukidi IV was just 3 years old when he became king of the Tooro Kingdom after his father, Olimi Tooro, died at the age of 49 on Aug. 26, 1995. Throughout Rukidi IV’s childhood, a regency of family members and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni oversaw his reign, The Daily Monitor reported.

His crowning ceremony took place on April 17, 2010, the day after his 18th birthday.Rukidi IV was the 13th monarch of the traditional Ugandan kingdom, which was founded more than 200 years ago. Guinness World Records listed him as the world’s youngest reigning monarch, and he ruled over more than two million people. However, like several other traditional Ugandan monarchs, he did not wield any political power but had considerable cultural influence.Over the course of his reign, he promoted causes including youth empowerment, education, climate conservation, health advocacy and HIV/AIDS awareness, per The Daily Monitor. He also launched the Tooro Kingdom Vision 2045 development framework to secure better living standards and long-term prosperity, per the outlet.

His death has plunged the kingdom into a succession fight. Rukidi IV’s cousin, Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, 56, was named the next monarch by clan elders, but some members of the royal family, including Rukidi IV’s mother, rejected his appointment, per the BBC.

The late king’s sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, also claimed that Rukidi IV left a will, written in 2022, which named his son as successor to the throne, per the outlet. Rukidi IV was never married, and the boy was not revealed until after the king’s death, according to the BBC and Reuters.

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, called for unity at the late king’s private ceremony, Reuters reported.“Words spoken in grief can cause pain, division and conflict,” he said. “It can even destroy the legacy of the king we are ⁠mourning.”

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni also called for the matter to be resolved, adding that it should “favor unity over division,” according to the BBC.