Uganda's King Oyo: World's youngest reigning traditional monarch dies aged 34 - BBC News

King Oyo ascended to the throne of Uganda's Tooro kingdom when he was just three years old.

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption, King Oyo ascended to the throne at the age of three but was crowned on reaching adulthood at 18 in 2010

A traditional Ugandan ruler named as the world's youngest monarch has died aged 34, his prime minster announced.

Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV became king of Tooro in western Uganda at just three years old in 1995 after the death of his father.

The Tooro kingdom did not disclose the cause of King Oyo's death, but a Ugandan government minister was quoted in local media saying that he had been critically ill and was seeking treatment in the US.

Though Uganda is governed by an elected president and parliament, it has several traditional kingdoms which continue to have significant cultural influence despite not having political power.