The Royal Succession Committee of the Tooro Kingdom has selected George Desmond Kamurasi, 36, as the next Omukama of Tooro, succeeding his late cousin, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

The decision was reached on Friday, 4 September 2026, during a meeting of the 21-member committee held at Fort Motel in Fort Portal City. Of the 18 members who attended, 15 voted in favour of Kamurasi.

The committee, chaired by Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi, was constituted by the Ababiito royal clan on 28 August 2026 following the death of King Oyo. It had been holding consultations throughout the week on the succession question.

Kamurasi is the son of George Desmond “Jimmy” Mugenyi, a younger brother of the late King Patrick David Mathew Olimi Kaboyo II, who was the father of King Oyo. This makes him a first cousin of the departed monarch and a grandson of former Tooro King George Rukidi III. According to accounts of the succession process, he was identified as second in line to succeed his uncle under the will of King George Rukidi III.

Despite the committee’s endorsement, Kamurasi has not yet been formally proclaimed king before the Ababiito clan leaders and the wider public. The Omusuuga has indicated that Tooro custom requires the public announcement of the new monarch to take place after the burial of the late King. King Oyo’s burial is scheduled for 12 September, the same date that would have marked his 31st coronation anniversary.

Reports circulating after the committee meeting indicated that President Yoweri Museveni and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba support the selection as consistent with Tooro customs and succession precedents.

Kamurasi, who has spent much of his adult life in the United Kingdom, brings a professional background in healthcare. His selection marks a significant moment for Tooro Kingdom as it navigates the transition following the death of a monarch who ascended the throne as a three-year-old in 1995 and reigned for 31 years.

The kingdom remains in the official mourning period, with the body of King Oyo having been received back in Uganda and laid at Karuziika Palace. Once the burial rites are completed, the Ababiito are expected to formally announce George Desmond Kamurasi as the new Omukama, ushering in a new chapter for the Tooro monarchy.