Uganda is mourning the death of Prof. George Wilson Kanyeihamba, a retired Supreme Court judge and one of the country’s most respected legal scholars.
Kanyeihamba died at Nakasero Hospital, where he had been in the intensive care unit, according to a family source. His personal assistant, Denis, confirmed the death early Monday. “He died at Nakasero Hospital, where he had been in the ICU for some time,” Denis said.
No immediate details were available about the cause of death.
Prof. Kanyeihamba was 85.
A towering figure in Uganda’s legal and academic circles, Kanyeihamba was known for his fierce defense of constitutionalism and human rights. He served on the Supreme Court from 1997 until his retirement in 2009. Before that, he held various cabinet roles in President Yoweri Museveni’s government — later emerging as one of the administration’s most pointed legal critics.
He was one of three justices who ruled that the 2006 presidential election, which saw Museveni re-elected, was marred by irregularities including “rigging, bribery and intimidation of voters” — a rare move in Uganda’s judiciary at the time.
In recent years, Kanyeihamba kept a relatively low profile, though he occasionally spoke out on national issues. Reports about his declining health had been circulating.
Reactions to his death poured in from across Uganda’s political divide.
“Prof Kanyeihamba dedicated his life to serving the nation through various cabinet positions, his role on the bench, and his legal practice,” Speaker of Parliament Anita Among wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “May the good Lord provide comfort to all those who are grieving and grant his soul eternal rest.”
Bobi Wine, leader of the National Unity Platform and former member of Parliament, called him “a great pillar of constitutionalism in Uganda and Africa.”
“My family and I are saddened by the news,” he posted on X. “Our hearts go to the family and friends of the late … May the Lord strengthen you through this tough time.”
Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, recalled long, reflective conversations with the judge.
“Whenever we visited Justice Prof George Wilson Kanyeihamba, a one hour visit would always end up lasting four hours,” he wrote. “He told us numerous stories about our country’s history, and the many challenges he had to navigate as a judicial officer over the years.”
Kanyeihamba was born on August 11, 1939. A legal scholar with deep ties to Makerere University and international legal circles, he authored several books on law and governance.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced by the family.
