Prof. George Kanyeihamba, Retired Supreme Court Justice and Legal Luminary, Dies at 86

KAMPALA — Prominent legal scholar and retired Supreme Court Justice Professor George Wilson Kanyeihamba has died at the age of 86 after a prolonged illness. He passed away early Monday morning at a Kampala hospital where he had been admitted since early July. He had battled poor health for the past eight years, often in and out of medical care.

A man of unshakable convictions and formidable intellect, Prof. Kanyeihamba leaves behind a towering legacy in law, governance, and public service—not just in Uganda, but across Africa.

A Legacy Etched in the Constitution

Kanyeihamba played a pivotal role in shaping Uganda’s post-independence legal framework. In the 1990s, he chaired the Legal Committee of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1995 Constitution, often regarded as a landmark in the country’s democratic journey.

He later served in President Yoweri Museveni’s Cabinet as Minister of Commerce, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and Attorney General. In 1997, he was appointed to the Supreme Court, where he served until his retirement in 2009.

Fearless Defender of Justice

Prof. Kanyeihamba’s judicial career reached a defining moment in 2006, when he dissented in a Supreme Court ruling that upheld President Museveni’s re-election. He argued that the election was marred by irregularities significant enough to warrant annulment—a stance many believe led to his removal from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, where he had served as a judge.

Despite the political consequences, Kanyeihamba remained unwavering in his pursuit of judicial independence and democratic values.

Academic and Author

Born in 1938, Kanyeihamba obtained a PhD in Law from the University of Warwick (UK). In 2008, the same university honored him with an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) for his contributions to legal scholarship.

He authored several influential works, including:

• Constitutional and Political History of Uganda: From 1894 to the Present

• Kanyeihamba’s Commentaries on Law, Politics, and Governance

Even after retirement, he remained active in public discourse, writing opinion pieces and speaking out on issues affecting justice and governance.