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September 4, 2026 — The Royal Succession Committee of the Tooro Kingdom has selected George Desmond Kamurasi, 36, as the preferred successor to the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, according to veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda.

Mwenda announced the development in an X post on Friday evening, saying the 21-member Royal Succession Committee reached the decision during a meeting held at Fort Motel in Fort Portal City.

According to Mwenda, the committee met from 11am to 3pm, with 18 of its 21 members in attendance. He said 15 members voted in favour of Kamurasi, paving the way for his succession to the Tooro throne.

The committee was selected by the Royal Clan of Tooro (Ababiito) on August 28, 2026, and is chaired by Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi. It has been meeting daily since August 31 to consider the succession following the death of King Oyo on August 26 in Texas, United States.

Who is George Kamurasi?

Kamurasi is the son of George Desmond “Jimmy” Mugenyi, the younger brother of Patrick David Mathew Olimi Kaboyo II.

Mwenda said Kamurasi was identified in the will of his late father, King George Rukidi III, as the second in line to succeed his elder brother, Olimi Kaboyo II.

His selection therefore places him within the established royal lineage as the proposed successor to King Oyo, who became one of the world’s youngest reigning monarchs when he ascended the Tooro throne in 1995.

Museveni, Muhoozi Back Committee Decision:

Mwenda also said he held discussions on Friday evening with Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Commander of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Chairman of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), as well as Gen. Kayanja Muhanga, and briefed them on the committee’s decision.

According to Mwenda, Gen. Muhoozi endorsed Kamurasi’s selection, saying it was consistent with Tooro customs, precedents and laws governing royal succession.

Mwenda further reported that Gen. Muhoozi told him that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni supports the decision of the Royal Succession Committee.

He said the President had sent a team led by a senior Cabinet minister to Fort Portal to engage key stakeholders over the succession question.

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

Formal Announcement Still Pending:

Despite the committee’s decision, the succession is not yet expected to be publicly formalised.

Mwenda said he had spoken to Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi, who informed him that, according to Tooro custom, the formal public announcement of the new king is made after the burial of the deceased monarch.

The development therefore marks a significant step in the process of determining the next occupant of the Tooro throne, but a formal announcement to the Babiito clan leaders remains pending.

Mwenda said he decided to disclose the committee’s decision to forestall speculation and misinformation on social media that could potentially create confusion around the succession.

The announcement comes as Tooro prepares to lay King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV to rest following his death at the age of 32.

The late monarch’s remains arrived in Uganda on Friday, September 4, with national and cultural leaders, members of the royal family and subjects paying tribute to a king who had reigned over Tooro for more than three decades.

The forthcoming burial is expected to precede the traditional and formal processes through which the Babiito clan will recognise and install the next Omukama of Tooro.

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Kabale University has bid farewell to its former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joy Constance Kwesiga, following 21 years of service during which she played a central role in transforming the institution from a small community university into a chartered public university with more than 8,000 students.

Prof. Kwesiga, who retired on June 30, was on Friday honoured at a farewell ceremony held at the university grounds on Kikungiri Hill in Kabale Municipality.

The ceremony brought together her family, friends, university staff, students, politicians and other stakeholders who gathered to celebrate her contribution to the growth and development of the institution.

From 42 Students to More Than 8,000

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Kwesiga expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve Kabale University for more than two decades, describing the farewell as a significant moment in her life.

She reflected on her early days at the institution, recalling that when she joined in 2005, Kabale University was what she described as a “university without form.”

At the time, the university had only about 42 students, limited infrastructure and a small number of academic programmes.

Over the years, however, the institution underwent significant transformation, growing to more than 8,000 students and transitioning from a private community university into a public university.

Prof. Kwesiga said the transformation was characterised by the expansion of academic programmes, growth in student numbers and finances, governance reforms, increased research and innovation, as well as a stronger national and international profile.

Despite the achievements registered during her tenure, Prof. Kwesiga acknowledged that she was leaving behind challenges that still require attention.

Among the major concerns is the need to change the mindset of leaders in Kigezi towards the university, alongside the long-running challenge of securing additional land for expansion.

She pointed to an 80-acre piece of land belonging to Kabale District Local Government, which has been identified as critical to the university’s future growth.

The land question was also raised by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, who appealed to Kabale District leaders to consider providing additional land to the institution.

Tayebwa’s appeal comes as Kabale University continues to experience rapid growth, placing increasing pressure on its existing infrastructure and physical space.

The additional land would enable the university to expand its academic, administrative and other infrastructure as it prepares for its next phase of development.

With Prof. Kwesiga’s retirement, Kabale University has entered a new chapter under Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Johnny Mugisha, working alongside Chancellor Canon Matthew Rukikaire.

The new leadership inherits an institution that has undergone remarkable growth over the past two decades, but also faces the challenge of consolidating those gains while addressing infrastructure and land constraints.

Prof. Kwesiga’s 21-year tenure leaves behind a significant institutional legacy — from a university that had just 42 students in 2005 to a public university now serving more than 8,000 learners.

Her departure marks the end of one of the longest chapters in Kabale University’s development, while the institution looks ahead to the next phase of its growth.

Tooro’s Royal Succession Committee has reportedly selected 36-year-old George Desmond Kamurasi as the next Omukama, setting the stage for a new chapter in the kingdom following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

The development was announced by journalist and businessman Andrew Mwenda, who said the Royal Succession Committee met on Friday, September 4, 2026, at Fort Motel in Fort Portal City and selected Kamurasi to succeed his late cousin.

According to Mwenda, 15 of the 18 committee members who attended the meeting voted in favour of Kamurasi.

The 21-member committee was selected by the Royal Clan of Tooro, the Ababiito, on August 28 and has been holding consultations on the succession of the throne.

The committee is chaired by Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi.

Who is George Desmond Kamurasi?

George Desmond Kamurasi is a member of Tooro’s royal family and is the son of George Desmond “Jimmy” Mugenyi, the younger brother of the late King Patrick David Mathew Olimi Kaboyo II.

Mwenda said Kamurasi was second in line to succeed his uncle Olimi Kaboyo II, according to the will of their late grandfather, former Tooro King George Rukidi III.

The 36-year-old has been living in Britain, where he has largely maintained a relatively low public profile compared to his late cousin, King Oyo.

Kamurasi has also recently attracted attention for his marriage to a white British woman, popularly described as a “Mzungu” wife.

His personal life and long residence in Britain are now likely to attract renewed public interest as he prepares to potentially take over one of Uganda’s oldest traditional institutions.

How Kamurasi was chosen

According to Mwenda, the Succession Committee held its meeting from 11am to 3pm on Friday, with 18 of its 21 members in attendance.

Of those present, 15 voted for Kamurasi.

Mwenda said he subsequently informed Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces and Chairman of the Patriotic League of Uganda, as well as Gen Kayanja Muhanga, the commander of the Land Forces, about the development.

He said Gen Kainerugaba endorsed the committee’s choice, arguing that it was consistent with Tooro customs, precedents and laws governing succession.

Museveni backs the choice

Mwenda further claimed that Gen Kainerugaba told him that President Yoweri Museveni supports the committee’s decision.

According to the post, Museveni sent a team led by a senior Cabinet minister to Fort Portal to consult with key stakeholders over the succession.

Mwenda said the consultations convinced the government team that there was “a wide consensus” around Kamurasi’s selection.

The official announcement is still pending

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

Mwenda said he had spoken to the Omusuuga, who informed him that Tooro custom requires the public announcement of the new King to be made after the burial of the late monarch.

The late King Oyo’s burial is therefore expected to precede the formal public announcement of his successor.

Mwenda said he decided to disclose the committee’s decision ahead of the traditional announcement to prevent speculation and misinformation on social media.

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

From King Oyo to Kamurasi

If formally installed, Kamurasi will inherit the Tooro throne following the death of King Oyo, who ruled the Kingdom for almost three decades after ascending to the throne as a three-year-old in 1995.

Oyo died abroad at the age of 34, triggering a succession process among the Ababiito.

The selection of Kamurasi now brings that process closer to its conclusion, although the traditional and formal stages of his installation are yet to be completed.

For Tooro, his potential ascension will mark the beginning of a new reign — one led by a royal who has spent years living abroad and whose personal and professional life has largely unfolded away from the public spotlight in Uganda.

For now, the Kingdom awaits the burial of King Oyo before the new King can be formally presented to the Babiito and the people of Tooro.

With profound sadness and a heavy heart, I join the Royal Family, the people of Tooro Kingdom, and the entire nation of Uganda in mourning our beloved King, His Majesty Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

His Majesty was truly a _generation King_. We watched him grow before our very eyes. We still remember with nostalgia the little 3-year-old boy who was enthroned on 12th September 1995, after the untimely death of his father. We watched him grow from that innocent child, almost swallowed by the royal crown and robes, into a wise, dignified and admirable King. We admired how he was raised like any other child — going to school, being disciplined, being guided with love and faith — yet he carried the enormous weight and responsibility of a great Kingdom on his young shoulders with such grace.

For the young generation, he has been a _source of great inspiration and hope_. His life and reign made us believe that leadership is not about age, but about grace, wisdom, character and service. He proved to every young person that you can lead, you can inspire, and you can transform lives regardless of how young you are, if God is with you.

What will remain most etched in our hearts is that he was a King who put God first. In all his public appearances, speeches and actions, his faith was evident. His humility, his gentle spirit, his respect for all people, and his closeness to God lives a lasting impression that will never fade. He led not with pride or might, but with a humble heart that sought God’s guidance.

In his 31 years on the throne, he championed education, youth empowerment, health, tourism, environmental conservation and unity of his people. He became a symbol of cultural pride, peace and modern progressive traditional leadership.

He leaves behind a legacy that is unmatched. A legacy of a child who became a father to a Kingdom; a legacy of faith-filled leadership; a legacy that will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.

I wish to also condole with H.E. the President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who was a guardian and father figure to the young King from his childhood. We sincerely thank you, Your Excellency, for the immense support, guidance and fatherly care you gave to His Majesty during his entire reign till the hour of his demise.

I convey my deepest condolences. May the good Lord comfort the Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, the Royal Family, the Tooro Kingdom administration, and all the Batooro during this painful mourning period.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Omukama Atulize. Rukirabasaija Agutwikire.

Kiwala Caroline Tahir

Assistant Resident District Commissioner

Iganga District.

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ENTEBBE, UGANDA — Words failed the Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa Akiiki, on Friday as grief overwhelmed her shortly after she disembarked from the aircraft carrying the remains of her son, His Majesty Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

The emotional moment unfolded at Entebbe International Airport today, where the Queen Mother broke down in tears upon seeing the remains of the Tooro monarch, whose death has plunged the kingdom, Uganda and beyond into mourning.

Dressed in black, the Queen Mother appeared visibly distraught as she confronted the painful reality of the loss of her son. Her tears captured the profound grief surrounding the passing of the young monarch, who had led the Tooro Kingdom for nearly three decades.

The solemn reception marked the beginning of the official return and burial programme for King Oyo, whose remains were received by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and other dignitaries at the airport.

The Queen Mother’s emotional reaction offered one of the most poignant moments of the day, as mourners gathered to honour a king remembered for his leadership, humility and contribution to the development and promotion of the Tooro Kingdom.

For the royal family and the people of Tooro, the arrival of the remains marked a deeply painful chapter in their mourning journey.

In that moment, there were no speeches, no titles and no ceremony—only a mother mourning the loss of her son.

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today received the body of His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV at Entebbe International Airport, paying tribute to the fallen Tooro monarch as a good person and leader whose death has deeply saddened the nation.

The aircraft carrying King Oyo’s body arrived at the VIP Terminal at exactly 12:00 noon for a solemn reception ceremony attended by members of the Tooro Royal Family led by the Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa, Tooro Kingdom officials, Central Government ministers and religious leaders.

Speaking after receiving the body and paying his last respects, President Museveni expressed sorrow over the King’s death, recalling his long association with the Tooro Royal Family and the efforts made to secure specialised medical treatment for the monarch.

“Sorry for the loss of the grandchild, King Oyo. We looked after him, we took him to school, and he grew up, but now the Lord has taken him,” President Museveni said.

The President said the Queen Mother first informed him about the King’s illness during a meeting in November 2025, at the height of campaigns ahead of the General Elections.

“The Queen Mother came and visited me in November 2025 during the campaigns ahead of the elections, and she told me about this problem of aggressive cancer that had started disturbing the King,” he said.

President Museveni said he subsequently supported efforts to secure specialised treatment for King Oyo, initially in Germany and later in the United States, but the treatment was ultimately unsuccessful.

“But they were unable to save the King,” he said.

The President described King Oyo as a good person and leader throughout his reign as the Omukama of Tooro.

“During his entire leadership as King of Tooro, he was a very good person and leader. May the Lord grant him eternal rest. Amen,” President Museveni said.

Solemn Reception:

Upon the arrival of the aircraft, President Museveni proceeded to the flagmast area, where the casket was formally received.

In a ceremony combining military and cultural symbolism, the Uganda Police wrapped the casket in the national colours and the colours of the Tooro Kingdom.

The casket was then carried through a guard of honour mounted by the Uganda Police before being placed at a designated point in front of the President.

President Museveni paid his final respects to the fallen King and laid a wreath as the Uganda Police Brass Band played solemn hymns.

Cabinet ministers, members of the Tooro Royal Family, Tooro Kingdom officials and religious leaders subsequently paid their last respects.

The President later held a brief meeting with selected members of the Royal Family, including the Queen Mother, at the Presidential Lounge.

The delegation accompanying the body, together with selected members of the Royal Family, later boarded a helicopter bound for Kyegegwa District.

King Oyo’s body will now be received by mourners and members of the Tooro Kingdom as preparations continue for his official burial scheduled for September 12, a date that would have marked the 31st anniversary of his coronation.

Friday’s ceremony at Entebbe International Airport marked the beginning of the final journey home for the fallen Tooro King, as his family, subjects and the nation prepare to accord him a final farewell.

 

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Before The Last Gal became a name associated with Kampala’s electronic music scene, there was Rachel Heyzo Kanyunyuzi, a young woman learning to make sense of music from behind the decks.

Her journey began in 2022 at Gong Academy, where she started learning the art of DJing under Derrick Files. There was no dramatic battle or overnight competition to announce her arrival. Instead, November 2022 marked the point at which she decided to step forward, unveil herself and take the craft seriously.

The Last Gal had already been moving within the industry and around some influential circles, and for a while, there was speculation that she and fellow media personality Etania could make a formidable duo, largely because of their similar energy and presence.

But as their careers developed, the two women took different musical paths.

Etania found her space in Amapiano and became one of the genre’s recognisable faces in Uganda. The Last Gal, meanwhile, gravitated towards electronic music, exploring sounds such as house and garage while gradually developing an identity that was distinctly her own.

That separation became an important part of The Last Gal’s story.

It gave her the room to build without constantly being defined through an association with someone else.

After unveiling herself in 2022, she deliberately stepped back in 2023 to concentrate on her studies and improve her craft. In March that year, she left Uganda to pursue further education, using her time away to deepen her understanding of DJing and music.

When she returned in February 2024, things began to move.

She considers that return her breakthrough moment—the point at which the work she had done away from the spotlight began translating into a more defined presence on Kampala’s nightlife circuit.

Her approach to DJing is also deliberately unconventional.

The Last Gal says what sets her apart is her ability to “think out of the box” and play in a manner she describes as being “like a man.”

For her, it is less about conforming to established expectations of what a female DJ should sound like and more about asserting herself through music selection, transitions and her ability to control a room.

Her choice of electronic sounds has helped her carve out that space.

In a nightlife scene where Afrobeats, Amapiano, dancehall and Ugandan pop often dominate, house and garage offer her a different musical palette. They allow her to create sets built around rhythm, movement and atmosphere rather than simply following the most popular sounds of the moment.

Even her stage name has a personal story.

The Last Gal comes from the fact that she is the last-born in her family. What began as a simple description has since grown into a recognisable identity within Kampala’s electronic music community.

Today, The Last Gal is no longer simply a name appearing alongside someone else’s.

It is an identity Kanyunyuzi Rachel Heyzo has built through study, experimentation and a willingness to explore a sound that is not necessarily the most obvious route for a DJ trying to establish herself in Kampala.

Her next step could be her clearest statement yet that she has become her own act.

On October 2, she is set to headline her first solo rave at Guvnor Street, bringing together electronic music, audiovisual production, lighting and performance in a show designed to showcase the world she has been building behind the decks.

For an artist whose journey has been less about an instant breakthrough and more about finding her sound, the rave represents another stage in that evolution.

The story of The Last Gal is therefore not simply about a DJ who chose electronic music.

It is about an artist who took time to figure out who she wanted to be, stepped away when she needed to grow, returned with greater clarity and began building an identity that could stand on its own.

The Last Gal did not need a duo to define her.

She needed time to find her sound.

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The body of the late Omukama of Tooro, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, has arrived in Uganda, marking the beginning of a nine-day mourning period across the Tooro Kingdom.

The mourning period will run from September 4 to September 12, 2026, when King Oyo is scheduled to be laid to rest.

According to the Babiito Royal Clan, the mourning period will be observed in accordance with Tooro customs and traditions following the death of a reigning king.

Babiito Royal Clan spokesperson Moses Amooti has called on Tooro subjects to suspend farming throughout the nine-day mourning period as part of the traditional observances.

Amooti explained that the restriction is rooted in established mourning practices, under which farming normally stops for three days following the death of an ordinary person, four days when a member of the Babiito clan dies, and nine days when a reigning king dies.

“We therefore do not expect Batooro to engage in farming,” Amooti said, urging subjects to dedicate the period to mourning and respecting the cultural traditions of the kingdom.

Men have also been asked to leave their marital beds and abstain from sexual intimacy with their wives during the nine days.

Amooti said the measure is intended to ensure that subjects fully observe the mourning rituals and give the late king the respect required under Tooro tradition.

The Babiito Royal Clan has also appealed to bar owners, entertainment venues and members of the public to avoid playing loud music throughout the mourning period.

Amooti described loud entertainment during the mourning period as disrespectful and urged the public to give the kingdom space to grieve peacefully.

“That is mockery. We urge you to be patient for at least nine days,” he said, adding that activities likely to disturb the peace of others should be avoided until the burial.

The restrictions will remain in place until September 12, when King Oyo will be buried, bringing the official nine-day mourning period to an end.

The period is expected to see Tooro subjects observe various cultural practices as the kingdom prepares to bid farewell to a monarch whose reign began when he was still a child and spanned more than two decades.

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