With profound humility, I respectfully decline to ascend the throne of Tooro.
Out of respect for our late king and the will he expressed for our kingdom, I believe his wishes must be honoured.
The throne is sacred, the will of our fallen King must remain respected.
Rukidi
AN APPEAL FOR PEACE AND UNITY IN TOORO
People of Tooro, our leaders, friends of Tooro and fellow Ugandans,
We are living through one of the most painful and delicate moments in the history of our Kingdom.
His Majesty Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has passed away, and even before we have laid our King to rest, sharply differing positions have emerged regarding succession to the Crown of Tooro.
On one hand, a group has announced a new King. On the other, there is a Will left by the late Omukama containing his expressed wishes regarding succession.
These are serious matters that must ultimately be addressed. But as Batooro, we must ask whether this is the right moment, and whether the manner in which this is unfolding honours the King whose body we have not yet laid to rest.
Whatever our positions or interpretations of Tooro’s customs and institutions, there must remain a minimum standard of moral decency.
Let us first bury our King.
The Crown of Tooro has existed for generations and will endure long after all of us. Nothing is so urgent that we must sacrifice the dignity of His Majesty’s final journey, the grief of the Royal Family, the unity of our people or the peace of our Kingdom to settle it now.
There will be time to examine the Will, to hear those advancing a different position, and to consider our customs, the applicable law and the proper institutions through which succession should be determined. That process should take place calmly and credibly, not through competing announcements, confrontation, or attempts to establish facts on the ground while our King still awaits burial.
I therefore appeal to everyone involved, regardless of the position they support, to exercise restraint. Tooro is bigger than any one of us, and the Crown is too important to become the prize in a contest conducted in the middle of our mourning.
I also respectfully appeal to the Government of Uganda to provide appropriate guidance and support to ensure that peace, order and sanity prevail during this sensitive period.
This is not a request for Government to choose a King for Tooro. It is an appeal to help protect the conditions within which the relevant cultural, legal and institutional processes can take place peacefully, fairly and without intimidation or disorder. Where necessary, respected elders, cultural leaders and other credible persons should also help guide an orderly way forward.
My appeal is simple: lower the temperature.
We can disagree without destroying one another. We can defend our positions without insensitive language. We can seek the truth without abandoning our culture, dignity and humanity.
History will remember not only how the succession question was resolved, but also how we behaved when our King died.
Let it record that, in a moment of grief and disagreement, the people of Tooro chose restraint, our leaders chose wisdom over confrontation, and we gave His Majesty the dignity of resting in peace before turning to the future of his Crown.
For now, let us mourn together. Let us bury our King with honour. Then, with dignity, fairness and respect, let the truth and the proper process guide what comes next.
In whatever we do, Tooro must come first.
The worst thing Tooro kingdom ever did was to bring these issues onto social media, they will depress that Kingdom until they give the throne to young Oyo.
BREAKING: Tooro Kingdom has unveiled the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV’s 2022 will, which provides for succession to the Tooro throne.
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BEHOLD TOORO’S OMUSUNA!
Omusuna of Tooro Kingdom,
The Chief Priest prepares the Iziba,
Head Custodian of the Royal Tombs,
Final recipient of Omuguta gw’Omukama,
Preserver of the King’s last hides and skins,
Steward of the final transition rituals,
Mortal link of the portal to the immortal,
Overseer of continuity between regimes,
Last witness to the heir’s 9 coffee berries,
Keeper of the end of mourning forever,
Omugurusi Karozi Abwooli of Kangoma,
Announcer of the start of celebrations,
Caller of Omujaguzi, custodian of royal drums.
Sheikh Kiti’s message to the late Omukama of Tooro wasn’t necessary mostly in this period were we all have to wish the late Omukama well. Sheikh Kiti coming out now and spreading a message that Omukama died without knowing God was uncalled for, Sheikh needs to know that his God is not the only God. Let people believe in what they want, Omukama knew who his God was and there was no need to come and prove to anyone. Sheikh Kiti you need to know that no one is going to judge Omukama in a bad way, he will be welcomed by his God and will rest in peace.
Today, I received the body of His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, at Entebbe International Airport.
The Queen Mother first informed me of his illness in November 2025, and we supported efforts to secure specialised treatment for him in Germany and later in the United States. Unfortunately, he died.
Throughout his reign as King of Tooro, Oyo was a good person and a good leader. His passing is a great loss to the people of Tooro and Uganda.
I encourage the people of Tooro to remain calm and avoid disorganisation, even in this difficult time.
May the Lord grant him eternal rest. Amen.
The Royal Succession Committee of Toro Kingdom met today September 4, 2026 at Fort Motel in Fort Portal City and selected George Desmond Kamurasi (36) as the next king of Toro. He succeeds his late cousin, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi 1V who died on August 26, 2026 in Texas USA.
The committee, which was selected by the Royal Clan of Toro (Ababiito) on August 28th 2026, is chaired by Omusuuga Charles Akiiki Kamurasi. Composed of 21 members, it has been meeting every day since Monday September 31. Today they met from 11am to 3pm. Out of 21 members, 18 attended today’s meeting out of whom 15 voted for George Kamurasi.
George Kamurasi is the son of George Desmond [Jimmy] Mugenyi, young brother to Patrick David Mathew Olimi Kaboyo 11. He was the second in line of succession to his brother Olimi Kaboyo 11, according to the will of their late father, His Majesty King George Rukidi iii.
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. Gen Keinerugaba fully endorses the choice of the Succession Committee of Toro because it is consistent with the customs, all precedents and laws of Toro on succession.
The CDF has said that President Yoweri Museveni supports the decision of the Royal Committee on Succession. He sent a team led by a senior cabinet minister to Fort Portal. After extensive consultations with all the key stakeholders, the committee was convinced that there is a wide consensus around the succession of Kamurasi.
We now await the Omusuuga to make a formal announcement officially to the Babiito clan leaders. I have spoken to Omusuuga who has 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.