An amateur goalkeeper from London may be next in line for the Ugandan throne after the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the monarch of the Tooro Kingdom in western Uganda. George Desmond Kamurasi, 36, plays for the South East Dons football club and is reportedly being considered as the successor to the late king, who passed away in the United States last week at age 34 after battling an aggressive form of cancer. Kamurasi is a direct descendant of the 'Babiito' clan, a royal lineage in Uganda, and a cousin to the late king. Kamurasi is currently in Uganda to attend the funeral of King Oyo, which is expected to take place before the weekend. As per tradition, the successor will be named before the burial. A Royal Select Committee, responsible for confirming the new king, must first compile a shortlist that includes both bloodline relatives and relatives of the deceased monarch. The process is steeped in cultural significance, reflecting the kingdom’s deep-rooted traditions. The Tooro Kingdom, ruled by King Oyo from 1995 until his death, has long been a subject of intrigue, especially after the passing of its young ruler. King Oyo was the world’s youngest serving monarch, ascending the throne at just three years old. As part of the traditional succession process, the new king will be expected to throw nine coffee beans into the ground where King Oyo is buried. Before heading to the palace, the new king is also expected to “battle” with someone for the throne, a practice followed by all previous rulers of the region. Kamurasi has not yet confirmed the reports but took to social media to ask for patience and space during this time. In a message, he wrote: "I appeal to all Ugandans to remain patient and allow the Omusuuga and the committee to perform their duties in accordance with our cultural traditions for enthroning a new Omukama. Let us focus entirely on mourning my cousin, His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV." Kamurasi plays for the South East Dons, an amateur football club based in southeast London, founded in 2014 by British rapper Andrew 'Don Strapzy' McHugh. The club has gained attention for its recent success, including reaching the second qualifying round of the FA Cup. Kamurasi has been a key player in the team’s efforts to climb the footballing ladder, with a match against Chichester City scheduled for Saturday, 19 September.