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FORT PORTAL / KAMPALA, UGANDA — The Royal Succession Committee of Tooro Kingdom has selected 36-year-old Prince George Desmond Kamurasi as the proposed successor to the late Omukama, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. The decision was finalized on Friday, September 4, 2026, during a closed-door meeting held at Fort Motel in Fort Portal City following six days of daily deliberations by the Babiito royal clan.
The announcement was disclosed by veteran journalist and royal family associate Andrew Mwenda, who confirmed that 15 out of 18 committee members present voted overwhelmingly in favor of Kamurasi.
While the selection awaits formal ritual proclamation by the head of the royal clan—Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi—after King Oyo’s funeral ceremonies, the disclosure has ignited intense public debate regarding royal protocol, lineage rights, and government involvement in kingdom affairs.
Who is George Desmond Kamurasi and how was he selected as Tooro King?
Prince George Desmond Kamurasi is a 36-year-old member of Tooro’s ruling Babiito royal clan and a first cousin to the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
He is the son of the late Prince George Desmond “Jimmy” Mugenyi Muzimanuki, who was the younger brother of former Omukama Patrick David Matthew Olimi Kaboyo II.
King George David Matthew Kamurasi Rukidi III
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King Patrick David Matthew Olimi Kaboyo II Prince George Desmond "Jimmy" Mugenyi
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King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV Prince George Desmond Kamurasi
(Died August 26, 2026) (Selected Successor)
The legal and cultural justification for Kamurasi’s selection traces back to the historic written will of his grandfather, His Majesty King George David Matthew Kamurasi Rukidi III.
According to kingdom archival records cited during the succession deliberations, King Rukidi III designated Prince Jimmy Mugenyi’s household as second in the direct line of succession after King Olimi Kaboyo II. Because King Oyo passed away without an officially presented, adult heir from his direct line, the Babiito clan reverted to the secondary branch specified in Rukidi III’s royal testament.
| Succession Metric / Aspect | Details of the Babiito Royal Clan Decision |
| Name of Selected Monarch | Prince George Desmond Kamurasi (Age 36) |
| Royal Lineage | Son of Prince Jimmy Mugenyi; Grandson of King Rukidi III |
| Committee Composition | 21-Member Royal Succession Committee appointed August 28 |
| Voting Breakdown | 18 Attended | 15 Voted YES | 3 Voted Against / Abstained |
| Meeting Venue & Date | Fort Motel, Fort Portal City (Friday, September 4, 2026) |
| Chaired By | Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi (Head of Babiito Clan) |
Why did Andrew Mwenda announce Tooro King successor before official burial?
The timing of the disclosure by journalist Andrew Mwenda generated immediate controversy across social media, with cultural traditionalists accusing him of usurping the authority of the Babiito clan elders.
Under Tooro custom, official succession announcements are strictly reserved for Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi and are traditionally made only after the deceased Omukama has been laid to rest at the Karambi Royal Tombs.
Defending his decision to release the information ahead of the formal announcement, Mwenda stated that early disclosure was necessary to neutralize wild social media speculation that threatened to destabilize the kingdom during its mourning period.
“We now await the Omusuuga to make a formal announcement officially to the Babiito clan leaders,” Andrew Mwenda stated. “I have spoken to Omusuuga, who told me that according to custom, the public announcement is done after the burial. I have made this announcement to avoid social media speculation that may cause unnecessary confusion.”
Despite Mwenda’s explanation, social media users and kingdom subjects reacted with sharp criticism over the breach of royal decorum:
“Who are you to announce this before the Kingdom of Tooro has officially done so?” questioned commenter Patrick Ssekabira on X. “The Omukama has just passed away, and the Kingdom, the royal family, and the Babiito are still mourning. Why not allow them to grieve in peace and follow their customs?”
Another observer, Octavius Bin Evadius, noted: “If customs and laws of Tooro Kingdom require the public announcement only after burial, what is the wisdom of announcing the successor before the people have formally heard the Royal Clan’s decision?”
What happened to late King Oyo alleged son and heir speculation?
The selection of 36-year-old Prince George Desmond Kamurasi directly addresses the intense public confusion surrounding King Oyo’s direct offspring.
On August 27, 2026, Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire issued a late-night death announcement claiming that the late Omukama left behind a “Prince as his heir” whose identity would be revealed at an appropriate time.
However, subsequent investigations and statements from clan elders revealed deep divisions over the status and age of the alleged infant heir.
- Minors and Regencies: Under Tooro cultural precedent, appointing a minor requiring a long council of regents—similar to King Oyo’s 1995 ascension at age three—was deemed impractical by the 21-member succession committee given modern administrative demands.
- Lineage Verification: Clan elders, led by Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi, required undeniable proof of patrilineal lineage and clan consensus. Lacking immediate consensus around an infant heir, the committee activated the clear provisions of King Rukidi III’s historical will.
This shift satisfied traditionalists who insisted on an adult monarch capable of managing kingdom administration, land assets, and cultural preservation without relying on protracted regency councils.
What is the role of Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi and Babiito clan?
In the Kingdom of Tooro, political administrators, government ministers, and politicians hold no constitutional authority over royal succession.
The responsibility of identifying, vetting, and crowning an Omukama rests entirely with the Babiito Royal Clan and its supreme cultural leader, the Omusuuga.
As the head of the royal clan and chairman of the 21-member succession committee, Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi holds the sole traditional right to:
- Preside over Succession Deliberations: Convene the royal council following the death of a sitting Omukama.
- Perform Sacred Rites: Conduct the traditional Okwijuka (remembrance) ceremonies and hand over the royal drum (Nyalebe) to the king-elect.
- Proclaim the Heir: Formally present the new monarch to the Babiito clan leaders and the general population of Tooro at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal.
While the committee has concluded its voting process, the Omusuuga has maintained that formal ceremonial presentation will proceed strictly according to royal funeral timelines.
How did President Museveni and Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba react to Tooro succession vote?
The selection of George Desmond Kamurasi has received explicit backing from Uganda’s military leadership and central government executives.
Following the committee’s vote on Friday afternoon, Andrew Mwenda held high-level briefings with Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Commander Land Forces (CLF) General Kayanja Muhanga.
According to Mwenda, General Muhoozi—who also chairs the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU)—fully endorsed Kamurasi’s selection, confirming that it aligns with constitutional frameworks, royal precedents, and traditional Tooro laws.
Furthermore, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni reportedly supported the committee’s decision and dispatched a high-level government delegation, led by a senior Cabinet minister, to Fort Portal to consult key regional stakeholders and ensure stability across the Rwenzori sub-region.
With state security endorsements secured and clan voting finalized, Tooro Kingdom now turns its full focus toward organizing the state funeral and burial of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, before formally crowning George Desmond Kamurasi as its 13th Omukama.
