Prof. George W. Kanyeihamba, a towering figure in Uganda’s legal and political history, has died at the age of 85.
Kanyeihamba passed away this morning at Nakasero Hospital, where he had reportedly been receiving intensive care for an extended period. The exact cause of death has yet to be officially confirmed.
Widely regarded as one of Uganda’s foremost legal minds, Prof. Kanyeihamba was a retired Supreme Court Justice, distinguished academic, prolific author, and prominent statesman.
His influence spanned decades of public service, including roles as Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament, and Chair of the Legal Committee that played a key role in drafting Uganda’s 1995 Constitution.
Appointed to the Supreme Court in 1997, Prof. Kanyeihamba served until his retirement in November 2009. Before joining the judiciary, he held several high-profile positions in President Yoweri Museveni’s government, including Minister of Commerce, Minister of Justice, and Attorney General.
An alumnus of the University of Warwick, he earned a PhD in Law from the institution, which later honoured him with an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) in 2008. At the time of his retirement, he was the only sitting judge in Uganda with a PhD—an accomplishment that earned him great admiration within the legal community.
Prof. Kanyeihamba is perhaps best remembered for his bold dissent in the 2006 presidential election petition. He was one of three Supreme Court justices who argued that President Museveni’s re-election was plagued by irregularities severe enough to warrant annulment. His dissent was widely praised for its courage, though some believe it contributed to his removal from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, where he had been serving as a judge.
Never afraid to speak truth to power, Kanyeihamba was an outspoken critic of government actions he deemed unconstitutional. He publicly condemned the storming of the High Court by security forces, who re-arrested treason suspects after they had been granted bail—a move later ruled unlawful by the Constitutional Court.
Throughout his career, Prof. Kanyeihamba maintained a complex relationship with the state, marked by both service and scrutiny. His fierce independence and intellectual discipline set him apart as a principled defender of the rule of law.
Outside the courtroom, he served as Chancellor of Kampala International University and Kabale University, and held several other key positions, including:
Member, Foundation for Human Rights Initiative
Chairman, Committee on Judges’ Terms and Conditions of Service
Legal Advisor to the President on Human Rights and International Affairs
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Kabale University
Chair, Legal and Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly
Chair, Advisory Panel of Eminent Commonwealth Judicial Experts, International Commission of Jurists
Prof. George W. Kanyeihamba leaves behind a legacy of fearless advocacy, legal excellence, and deep commitment to justice. His voice and vision will be deeply missed.
