The Royal Succession Committee of the Tooro Kingdom has selected 36-year-old George Desmond Kamurasi as the next Omukama, succeeding his late cousin, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
King Oyo died on August 26, 2026, in Texas, United States, where he was receiving medical treatment.
He was 34.
Oyo ascended the throne in September 1995 at the age of three following the death of his father, King Patrick David Mathew Kaboyo Olimi II. He reigned for more than three decades and was long recognized as one of the world’s youngest traditional monarchs.
The 21-member Royal Succession Committee, appointed by the Ababiito (Babiito) royal clan and chaired by Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi, met on September 4, 2026, at Fort Motel in Fort Portal. Of the 18 members present, 15 voted in favor of Kamurasi.
Formal public announcement and installation are expected after King Oyo’s burial, in line with Tooro custom.
Kamurasi is the son of George Desmond “Jimmy” Mugenyi, a younger brother of the late King Kaboyo. This makes him a first cousin of King Oyo and places him in the direct lineage of their grandfather, former King George David Kamurasi Rukidi III.
The selection draws on the succession framework outlined in Rukidi III’s will.
Professionally, Kamurasi brings a background in healthcare.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Makerere University and later worked as an oncology pharmacist and in finance and administration at the Uganda Cancer Institute.
He pursued postgraduate studies in epidemiology and health policy at the University of Washington and held a fellowship at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
He has also been linked to health-related organizations and is described in some profiles as having resided in the United Kingdom, with interests including sports coaching.
Reports indicate support for the committee’s choice from senior government figures, including President Yoweri Museveni and Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Kamurasi’s selection marks a transition for the Tooro Kingdom as it prepares for the next chapter of leadership rooted in both royal tradition and modern professional experience.
