BREAKING: George Desmond Kamurasi Selected as New Tooro King

FORT PORTAL —  Tooro Kingdom has selected a new king.

George Desmond Kamurasi, 36, has been chosen by the Royal Succession Committee to succeed his late cousin, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, marking the first major breakthrough in the kingdom’s succession process since Oyo’s death.

Journalist and Tooro royal family insider Andrew Mwenda announced the development on Friday evening, saying the 21-member Royal Succession Committee met at Fort Motel in Fort Portal City and voted overwhelmingly for Kamurasi.

“The Royal Succession Committee of Tooro Kingdom met today September 4, 2026 at Fort Motel in Fort Portal City and selected George Desmond Kamurasi (36) as the next king of Tooro,” Mwenda said.

“He succeeds his late cousin, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV who died on August 26, 2026 in Texas USA.”

According to Mwenda, the committee was established by the Babiito royal clan on August 28 and is chaired by Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi.

“The committee, which was selected by the Royal Clan of Tooro (Ababiito) on August 28th 2026, is chaired by Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi,” he said.

Mwenda said the committee comprises 21 members and had been meeting daily as it worked through the succession question.

“Composed of 21 members, it has been meeting every day since Monday September 31,” he said.

At Friday’s meeting, which lasted four hours, 18 members were present.

“Today they met from 11am to 3pm. Out of 21 members, 18 attended today’s meeting out of whom 15 voted for George Kamurasi,” Mwenda said.

Who is George Kamurasi?

The man selected to take over the Tooro throne comes from the royal family and is linked directly to the lineage of former Omukama George Rukidi III, who ruled Tooro from 1928 to 1965.

Mwenda said Kamurasi is the son of George Desmond “Jimmy” Mugenyi, the younger brother of former Omukama Patrick David Matthew Olimi Kaboyo II.

“George Kamurasi is the son of George Desmond [Jimmy] Mugenyi, young brother to Patrick David Mathew Olimi Kaboyo II,” Mwenda said.

He added that Kamurasi’s claim is rooted in the succession arrangements of the previous royal generation.

“He was the second in line of succession to his brother Olimi Kaboyo II, according to the will of their late father, His Majesty King George Rukidi III,” Mwenda said.

The reported selection places Kamurasi within the Babiito royal lineage from which Tooro’s kings have traditionally been drawn. The Tooro monarchy has historically followed hereditary succession through royal lineage.

Muhoozi endorses Kamurasi

Mwenda also disclosed that he briefed Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Gen Kayanja Muhanga about the committee’s decision.

“This evening I have held discussions with the CDF of UDPF who is also chairman of PLU, Gen Muhoozi Keinerugaba, and the CLF, Gen Kayanja Muhanga, and informed both of these developments,” he said.

According to Mwenda, Muhoozi endorsed the committee’s choice.

“Gen Keinerugaba fully endorses the choice of the Succession Committee of Tooro because it is consistent with the customs, all precedents and laws of Tooro on succession,” Mwenda said.

He further claimed that Muhoozi told him President Yoweri Museveni supports the decision.

“The CDF has said that President Yoweri Museveni supports the decision of the Royal Committee on Succession,” Mwenda said.

“He sent a team led by a senior cabinet minister to Fort Portal.”

Mwenda said the government delegation engaged key stakeholders before the decision was reached.

“After extensive consultations with all the key stakeholders, the committee was convinced that there is a wide consensus around the succession of Kamurasi,” he said.

Formal announcement still pending

Despite the committee’s vote, Kamurasi has not yet been formally announced to the public as Omukama.

Mwenda said the next step is for the Omusuuga to formally communicate the decision to the Babiito clan leaders.

“We now await the Omusuuga to make a formal announcement officially to the Babiito clan leaders,” he said.

The timing of the public announcement will be determined by Tooro custom.

“I have spoken to Omusuuga who has told me that according to custom, the public announcement is done after the burial,” Mwenda said.

The timing is significant because Tooro is currently preparing for the burial of King Oyo, whose remains have returned to Uganda following his death in the United States.

Mwenda said his decision to disclose the committee’s choice before the formal announcement was deliberate.

“I have made this announcement to avoid social media speculation that may cause unnecessary confusion,” he said.

The announcement effectively gives Tooro a named successor while leaving the traditional formalities surrounding the installation and public proclamation still to be completed.

For now, George Desmond Kamurasi is the man selected to become Tooro’s next Omukama, subject to the remaining customary steps.

You can read about the the late Omukama Oyo’s wealth as well as about the history and Kings of Tooro since 1800 Here and There.