By Justice George W. Kanyeihamba, one of Uganda’s most fearless critics of the current regime and a principal author of the 1995 Constitution, has died at the age of 86.
Latest
Gov’t Admits Flaws In EPS Auto System, Suspension Stands
Inside Museveni’s Pledge to Resolve Kasokoso Land Dispute
Museveni Hails Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo’s Legacy of Truth and Justice at Agago Thanksgiving
CDF Pays Tribute to Maj Gen (Rtd) James Ssebaggala at Burial in Nakaseke
Nansana Mayor Proposes New Bylaw to Curb Substandard Real Estate Development
Museveni Orders Airport Overhaul, Blames Bribe Scandals on Hiring of Unqualified Staff
In his later years, the retired Supreme Court judge stood out as a relentless voice against what he described as the country’s dangerous drift from constitutional rule. He decried the growing abuse of state power, corruption, and the increasing militarization of civic life, warning that these developments had steadily eroded the democratic principles he had helped enshrine in Uganda’s foundational legal document.
Kanyeihamba’s criticism reached its most dramatic point in 2005 when he publicly condemned the armed re-arrest of treason suspects who had just been granted bail by the High Court — a brazen act by security operatives that shocked the nation. The Constitutional Court would later rule that the raid was unconstitutional, fully vindicating the position Kanyeihamba had taken from the start.
His death was confirmed Monday morning by the Judiciary, which described him as “a towering legal scholar, unshaken in his defense of constitutionalism and justice.”
Born in 1939, George Kanyeihamba rose from a rural upbringing in Kasese to become one of Uganda’s most respected legal figures. He earned a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Warwick in the UK, which also awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) in 2008 for his contributions to international law and human rights.
Kanyeihamba’s career in public service saw him occupy several high-level positions under President Yoweri Museveni’s early government, including Minister of Commerce, Minister of Justice, and Attorney General. In 1997, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Uganda, where he served until his retirement in 2009.
Kanyeihamba became a national symbol of judicial integrity in 2006 when he was among the three Supreme Court justices who declared the re-election of President Museveni fraudulent enough to be annulled. While the majority upheld the election results, Kanyeihamba’s bold dissent made headlines and cemented his reputation as a judge who refused to compromise truth for political comfort.
Many believe this ruling cost him his subsequent appointment to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights — a position he lost shortly after.
Yet he remained vocal in retirement, often calling out what he saw as executive overreach, growing authoritarianism, and the suppression of judicial independence. In media interviews, lectures, and public debates, he consistently warned that Uganda’s political elite were betraying the Constitution’s core principles.
Kanyeihamba was not just a jurist but also a prolific academic and mentor. His legal writings — especially on constitutional law, justice, and African governance remain standard references in East African universities. He trained and inspired generations of lawyers, judges, and civil servants.
Tributes have poured in from across the country. Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo described him as “the judiciary’s moral compass.” The Uganda Law Society called him “a lion of the law and defender of the voiceless.”
Funeral arrangements are underway, and a special sitting of the Supreme Court is expected in his honour.
Justice Kanyeihamba is survived by his children and grandchildren. His legacy, marked by courage, scholarship, and unshakable conviction, leaves a lasting imprint on Uganda’s legal and political landscape.
