London non-league goalkeeper chosen as new leader of kingdom in UgandaGeorge Desmond Kamurasi, the 36-year-old captain of SE Dons in Crayford is to become the next king of the Tooro peopleGeorge Desmond KamurasiGeorge Desmond Kamurasi/InstagramAlex Young, Senior Sport Editor @alexwsyoung1 minute ago
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A London-based non-league goalkeeper is set to swap the football pitch for the throne after being selected to become the next king of the Tooro people in Uganda.
George Desmond Kamurasi, 36, captain of SE Dons in Crayford, has been chosen by the Tooro royal succession committee to succeed his cousin, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. The decision follows the unexpected death of Oyo, who last month died in the United States, aged 34.
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Kamurasi was selected on Friday, with 15 of the 18 committee members present voting in his favour. He is expected to be formally proclaimed as the new omukama – or king – this weekend.
The remarkable development could force Kamurasi to choose between his football career in south-east London and his new responsibilities in Uganda.
George Desmond Kamurasi, in yellow, is the captain and goalkeeper of SE DonsSE Dons/Instagram
He is reportedly reluctant to give up goalkeeping and has yet to comment publicly on his possible elevation. Reports suggest he would also prefer to remain in London, where he currently plays for SE Dons.
However, refusing the throne would be considered an abomination under Tooro cultural traditions, meaning Kamurasi’s options could be limited.
The Tooro Kingdom is located in western Uganda and is one of four traditional kingdoms in the country. The monarchies were abolished in 1967 after Uganda gained independence but were restored in 1993 as cultural institutions without political power.
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Kamurasi’s cousin Oyo became king in 1995 at the age of just three, making his reign one of the longest in the kingdom’s history.
Now, more than three decades later, Kamurasi could be preparing to follow him into the role.
For the moment, however, his footballing commitments remain part of an extraordinary story which has taken him from the penalty area in London to the possibility of a royal palace in western Uganda.
The SE Dons captain’s expected appointment is an unusual twist in a football career that has been played out far from the professional game – and one which could soon see him exchange his goalkeeper’s gloves for a crown.
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