When did Prof. George Wilson Kanyeihamba pass away?
On July 14, 2025, Uganda lost a towering figure in its legal and intellectual landscape. Prof. George Wilson Kanyeihamba, former Supreme Court judge, constitutional law scholar, and lifelong advocate for justice, passed away at Nakasero Hospital at the age of 85, after spending days in the intensive care unit.
The announcement of his death sent shockwaves through the legal fraternity, Parliament, academia, and the general public. Messages of condolence and reflection poured in from across Uganda and beyond. He is remembered not only for his robust legal mind and principled dissenting judgments but also for a deeply symbolic moment in 2015—when he broke down in tears at the Constitutional Court, lamenting the state of Uganda’s judiciary.
But to fully understand who Prof. Kanyeihamba was—and why his passing marks the end of a crucial chapter in Ugandan history—requires us to go deeper into the life, work, and unshakable convictions of the man who many called “the conscience of the Constitution.”
From Kinaba to the Supreme Court: A Humble Start
Born on August 11, 1939, in Kinaba, Kigezi District, George Kanyeihamba grew up in a modest rural home, the youngest of eleven children. His early education took him through Kigezi High School, Busoga College Mwiri, and King’s College Budo—elite institutions that nurtured his brilliance.
He would later study law at University College London before earning a PhD in Law from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, making him one of the first Ugandans to achieve such a distinction. Warwick would later honor him with a Doctor of Laws (LLD) in recognition of his lifelong service to justice and legal scholarship.
Architect of Uganda’s Legal Identity
Kanyeihamba played a central role in shaping the 1995 Constitution, a document that was meant to usher Uganda into a new democratic era after years of authoritarianism and political instability.
As a member of the Constituent Assembly and chairperson of its Legal Committee, he was instrumental in debates that enshrined fundamental rights, separation of powers, and judicial independence. He later served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and later as Minister for Constitutional Affairs under President Yoweri Museveni.
Yet even within government, Kanyeihamba’s voice remained fiercely independent. He was never afraid to challenge the status quo or call out abuse of power—even when it placed him at odds with powerful figures within the NRM regime.
A Supreme Court Tenure of Integrity
Appointed to the Supreme Court in 1997, Prof. Kanyeihamba left a legacy defined by courage and principle. Perhaps his most well-known moment on the bench came during the 2006 Presidential Election Petition. Then presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye had filed a petition challenging the legitimacy of President Museveni’s victory.
While the majority of the justices upheld Museveni’s win, Kanyeihamba was one of three dissenters who argued that the election had been so riddled with irregularities, intimidation, and fraud that it should be annulled. It was an extraordinary stance—especially for a sitting judge under the very government in question.
That judgment would have lasting consequences. According to multiple sources, including Kanyeihamba himself, his dissent cost him re-election to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, where Uganda had fielded him as a candidate.
But he never wavered. “Justice must be blind to power,” he often said. “It must serve the Constitution, not those who temporarily hold office.”
The Day He Wept in Court: March 18, 2015
If there was ever a single moment that captured Kanyeihamba’s love for justice and his anguish at its betrayal, it came on March 18, 2015, in the corridors of the Constitutional Court in Kampala.
That morning, Prof. Kanyeihamba, now a retired judge and practicing advocate, attempted to file a constitutional petition on behalf of then Western Youth MP Gerald Karuhanga and lawyer Eron Kiiza. The petition sought to block the vetting of Justice Steven Kavuma as Deputy Chief Justice, citing an alleged violation of constitutional procedures—specifically the claim that the Judicial Service Commission had not endorsed his appointment.
Armed with his documents, Kanyeihamba arrived early at the court registry. What happened next stunned even seasoned lawyers.
“The court registry staff began walking away, one by one,” he later recounted. “I moved from one desk to another. There was no one to help.”
As the vetting proceeded in Parliament, and the appointment was confirmed, Kanyeihamba was left helpless in a court he had once served. Television cameras captured him wiping away tears.
“This is not justice. This is a circus. I cry for Uganda. I cry for our constitutionalism,” he said.
It was an unforgettable scene—a man who helped write the Constitution, weeping because it was being shredded before his eyes.
The Rebel MPs Case: Legal Wrangles and Reconciliation
Even in retirement, Prof. Kanyeihamba remained deeply involved in high-stakes litigation. One of the most dramatic cases he handled was the 2013 “Rebel NRM MPs case,” involving four legislators: Theodore Ssekikubo, Barnabas Tinkasiimire, Wilfred Niwagaba, and Muhammad Nsereko.
These MPs had been expelled from the ruling party and were facing removal from Parliament. Kanyeihamba represented them in court, challenging their expulsion and the attempt to unseat them. The case was politically explosive.
But legal tensions soon spilled into the open. Kanyeihamba accused his clients of insubordination and eventually withdrew from the case during a heated session, leaving them without representation. The MPs hired other lawyers and filed parallel petitions.
In a stunning twist, Kanyeihamba later sued the MPs for Shs300 million in unpaid legal fees.
After protracted back-and-forth, the MPs issued a public apology, acknowledging that they had mishandled the relationship.
“We fully recognise and are grateful that it was mainly through the courageous and professional efforts of Prof Kanyeihamba and his legal team that our stay in Parliament today remains a reality,” read a statement signed by MP Ssekikubo.
The saga underlined both Kanyeihamba’s commitment to principle—and his refusal to be taken lightly by clients or colleagues.
Critic of Executive Overreach
Throughout his life, Kanyeihamba remained a vocal critic of executive overreach and what he saw as the erosion of Uganda’s democratic institutions.
He condemned the military’s involvement in civil governance, questioned the legality of treason suspect rearrests at court premises, and warned that parliamentary rubber-stamping would destroy the very institutions the Constitution was meant to protect.
Even his relationship with State House, where he once served as a senior legal adviser, was complicated. He grew increasingly estranged from the inner circles of power, especially as his public criticisms mounted.
Legacy in Academia and Global Legal Forums
Beyond the courtroom, Prof. Kanyeihamba contributed immensely to legal education and scholarship.
He served as chancellor of Kabale University and Kampala International University, authored numerous books, and gave public lectures across Africa and Europe. He was frequently invited to serve on Commonwealth legal panels and international law committees.
His book, “Constitutional and Political History of Uganda: From 1894 to Present”, remains a seminal text in understanding the country’s legal development.
Tributes from All Corners
As news of his death spread, tributes poured in.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among described him as a “pillar of justice” and said:
“Prof Kanyeihamba dedicated his life to serving the nation… May the good Lord provide comfort to all who are grieving and grant his soul eternal rest.”
Opposition leaders and civil society groups echoed similar sentiments. Musician and activist Bobi Wine said:
“He was a great pillar of constitutionalism in Uganda and Africa. Rest well, learned friend.”
A Final Word
Prof. George Kanyeihamba was never afraid to speak truth to power, even when it cost him dearly. Whether standing against judicial manipulation, rejecting flawed elections, or holding his own clients accountable, he remained committed to the rule of law above all else.
His life was one of service, brilliance, and sacrifice. And even in his last public image—weeping in court for a Constitution he helped create—he taught the nation a final lesson: Justice is not a building. It’s a principle.
