06/09/2026
Your Majesty, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa Akiiki,
There are moments when words feel far too small to hold the weight of a mother’s grief. To stand beside you in spirit today is to stand in awe of a woman whose life has been an extraordinary testament to strength, sacrifice, and fierce love.
For over thirty years, you navigated the complex world of leadership and tradition to guard and protect your young son, King Oyo, raising him to lead his people with grace. You have carried burdens few could survive, enduring widowhood at a young age, mourning the loss of your precious daughter Princess Celia, and shielding your family through every storm. Now, having lost your beloved son to cancer, the heartbreak is profound and unimaginable.
As a survivor and advocate who knows the relentless nature of cancer, my heart aching beside yours confirms a painful truth: cancer is an indiscriminate enemy that respects neither royal titles nor humble homes. It takes what is most precious to us. Having claimed both of your darling children, this loss is a sharp, devastating call to action.
Before you could even step aside to quietly grieve, the world moved rapidly around you. Yet, even in the center of this storm, please know that your deep, unwavering faith in God and the enduring love of your children will hold you anchor-steady. Their light remains woven into the very fabric of who you are.
We weep with you, we honor your unimaginable resilience, and we wrap you in our deepest love, prayers, and solidarity. You are not alone. With love, blessings from Philippa Kibugu Decuir, Breast Cancer Initiative East.