By Ritah Atukwatse,
KAMPALA,
Uganda is mourning the passing of one of its most respected legal minds, Justice (Rtd.) Prof. George Wilson Kanyeihamba, who died today at the age of 85. He leaves behind a lasting legacy in the fields of law, governance, and education.
Born on August 11, 1939, in Kinaba, Kinkizi District in the Kigezi Region, Prof. Kanyeihamba rose from humble beginnings to become a highly regarded Supreme Court Judge, Cabinet Minister, academic, and constitutional expert.
Prof. Kanyeihamba is best remembered for his fearless and independent voice on the Supreme Court of Uganda, where he served from 1997 to 2009. He was one of the three judges who boldly ruled that the 2006 re-election of President Yoweri Museveni was marred by irregularities and should have been nullified. His ruling shocked the political establishment and, according to analysts, may have cost him further regional appointments.
He also stood firm against injustice when he condemned the 2005 invasion of the High Court premises by security personnel who rearrested treason suspects shortly after being granted bail. The Constitutional Court later ruled that the raid was unconstitutional — a ruling that echoed the views of Prof. Kanyeihamba.
Prof. Kanyeihamba played a central role in shaping Uganda’s legal framework. He was Chair of the Legal and Drafting Committee during the Constituent Assembly that created the 1995 Constitution — a foundational document still in use today.
He also served as Attorney General, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Commerce in the early years of the NRM government under President Museveni. His experience in both the executive and judiciary made him a unique voice in Uganda’s legal and political landscape.
Prof. Kanyeihamba’s academic journey took him from Hamurwa Church School to Kigezi High School, and later to Busoga College Mwiri. He later studied in the UK, where he earned a Bachelor of Laws from Portsmouth University and a PhD in Law from the University of Warwick in the 1970s. In 2008, Warwick honored him with an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD).
He taught law in Uganda and the UK, including at Lanchester Polytechnic (now Coventry University), the University of Wales, and Nsamizi Law School in Entebbe. Back home, he was a lecturer, public speaker, and legal author. He also served as Chancellor of both Kampala International University and Kabale University.
George Kanyeihamba was married to Susan Kanyeihamba, and together they raised three children — Sarah, Joel, and Ruth — along with an adopted daughter, Betty.
He also held several leadership roles, including Chairman of the International Commission of Jurists’ Advisory Panel, Legal Adviser to the President on Human Rights, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Kabale University.
He once served on the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, representing Uganda at the continental level. Though his term ended controversially, many remember him as a strong defender of human rights and judicial independence across Africa.
