Uganda mourns king's death

KAMPALA, Uganda, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Uganda was holding a public holiday for the burial of one of the country's traditional kings, who died last week.

Henry Wako Muloki ruled over Busoga, one of Uganda's five kingdoms. He died of throat cancer at age 87, BBC reported Monday.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni attended the state funeral near Busoga's main town, Jinja.

The British news service reported that in the 1980s, the king helped mobilize people to block fighters loyal to rebel priestess Alice Lakwena from marching on the Ugandan capital city of Kampala.

On Sunday, a five-hour requiem service was held for the king.