As Tooro Kingdom prepares to celebrate King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV’s coronation anniversary and birthday, the festivities have begun with a heartwarming act of kindness. Instead of receiving traditional birthday gifts, the king has asked his people to support a special cause – free life-changing surgeries for children with limb deformities.

The three-day medical camp at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital marks the start of celebrations leading up to the king’s April 16 birthday. Over 50 children suffering from fractures, rickets, knee deformities, and chronic bone infections will receive free surgeries, with all operations set to be completed by April 9.

King Oyo made the decision to redirect what would have been his birthday gifts towards helping vulnerable children in his kingdom. “His Majesty asked that what would have been given to him be redirected to help children with medical challenges,” explained Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire. He described this move as a true show of compassionate leadership.

Dr. Beyeza, the kingdom’s Health Minister and a senior orthopedic specialist, is leading the medical effort. He emphasized their commitment to fulfilling the king’s vision of transforming lives, particularly for the youngest and most vulnerable members of society. The initiative has brought together a team of health experts from the United States, led by Dr. Lanka Rodriguez and Apostle Dr. Sea Holland, who make this medical mission an annual tradition every April.

Dr. Rodriguez shared that King Oyo’s deep care for his people inspired them to keep returning. “It’s not just about the surgeries,” she said. “It’s about restoring hope.” For many of these children, the operations mean the difference between a life of difficulty and one of greater possibility.

The medical camp is particularly significant for Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, which normally lacks the capacity to handle such specialized cases. Dr. Bahizi Archbald Newton Sebahire, the hospital’s Acting Director, expressed deep gratitude for the initiative. “This camp is a game-changer for us,” he said. “We’ve been referring these children to distant facilities. Now, they can receive expert care right here at home.”

Parents and guardians have been arriving at the hospital with their children, many traveling from remote parts of the kingdom. The joy and relief on their faces tell stories of long journeys and waiting for this chance at healing. One mother, cradling her young son who was born with a leg deformity, shared how this opportunity came at just the right time after years of struggling to find proper treatment.

The surgical outreach perfectly sets the tone for the upcoming coronation and birthday celebrations, which will focus not just on honoring the king, but on the spirit of giving and transformation that has defined his reign. King Oyo, who became the world’s youngest monarch at just 3½ years old in 1995, has grown into a leader known for his innovative approaches to improving lives in his kingdom.

This year’s unique birthday celebration reflects King Oyo’s vision of leadership that prioritizes the needs of his people. By choosing medical care for children over personal gifts, he sets an example of selfless service that resonates throughout Tooro Kingdom and beyond. The initiative also highlights the importance of partnerships, bringing together the kingdom’s resources with international medical expertise to create meaningful change.

As the surgeries continue, the hospital grounds have taken on a festival-like atmosphere, with community members stopping by to show support. Local musicians have volunteered to entertain the children and their families, while volunteers distribute meals and comfort items. The sense of communal care and celebration fills the air, blending the solemn importance of the medical procedures with the joyful spirit of the approaching coronation anniversary.

Looking ahead, kingdom officials hint that this may become a new tradition, with potential plans to expand the medical outreach in future years. The success of this first effort has sparked conversations about addressing other healthcare needs in the community through similar initiatives.

For now, all attention remains on the children receiving their surgeries and the dedicated medical teams working to change lives. As the kingdom prepares for the official coronation celebrations later in the month, these acts of healing and hope stand as the truest celebration of King Oyo’s leadership – one that measures a ruler’s worth not in gold or gifts received, but in lives touched and transformed.

The story of this medical camp will likely become part of King Oyo’s legacy, remembered not just for the physical healing it brought to dozens of children, but for the message it sends about leadership priorities. In a world where rulers often measure their importance by displays of wealth and power, the King of Tooro has chosen instead to measure his by the number of children who can now walk, run, and play without pain or limitation.

As the sun sets over Fort Portal at the end of the first day of surgeries, there is a palpable sense that the real celebration has already begun – not with feasts or fireworks, but with the quiet miracle of a child taking their first pain-free steps, and a kingdom coming together to make it happen. This, more than any ceremony, honors the true spirit of King Oyo’s reign and the values he represents.

The coronation anniversary events will continue throughout the month, but the impact of these three days of healing will last much longer in the lives of the children and families touched by the king’s extraordinary birthday gift. In Tooro Kingdom, this April will be remembered not just for how they celebrated their king, but for how their king chose to celebrate his people.