KAMPALA, Uganda – Renowned Ugandan jurist and former Supreme Court Judge, George Wilson Kanyeihamba, passed away early this morning, July 14, 2025, at the age of 85.
Retired Supreme Court Judge and former Cabinet Minister Professor George W Kanyeihamba has died.
Mukose told our reporter that Kenyeihamba has been battling Diabetes. He said he had been in the ICU for a long period until he passed on.
He was appointed Supreme Court Judge in 1997 and retired in November 2009. Previously, he served as Minister of Commerce, Minister of Justice, and Attorney General.
Kanyeihamba was one of the three Supreme Court justices who ruled that the re-election of President Museveni in 2006 was fraudulent enough and should be nullified.
Kanyeihamba was born on 11 August 1939 in Kinaba, Kinkizi District. He attended Hamurwa Church School, Nyaruhanga Anglican Church Primary School, Nyakatare Church School, Kigezi High School, Busoga CollegeMwiri, and Norwich City College.
Kanyeihamba was also the Chancellor of both Kampala International University and Kabale University.
He held several positions, including Member of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, Chairman of the Committee on Judges’ Terms and Conditions of Service and legal advisor to the President on Human Rights and International Affairs.
Others were the Chairman of the board of trustees of Kabale University, Chairman of, Legal and Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, Chair of the International Commission of Jurists according to URN via The Independent.
Quoting the Explorer Uganda:
Denis, a close family confirmed to the media that Prof. Kanyeihamba passed away on Monday, July 14, 2025, at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala, where he had spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
He noted that while the exact cause of death has not yet been officially confirmed, the former judge had been battling health complications commonly associated with advanced age.
The family aide also revealed that Prof. Kanyeihamba was widely regarded as one of Uganda’s most respected legal minds, celebrated for his fearless defence of constitutionalism, democracy, and human rights an effort that left a lasting mark on the nation’s legal and political landscape.
“Prof. Kanyeihamba was more than a legal mind to us he was a pillar of wisdom, humility, and service. Even in his final days, he remained deeply concerned about the state of justice in this country,” his passing leaves a deep void in both our family and the nation he so dearly loved,” Denis, a close family aide said.
He added that throughout his long and distinguished career, he held several senior positions in government, including Attorney General, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Commerce. He later served as a Justice of the Supreme Court from 1997 until his retirement in 2009.
He was also a key figure in the making of the 1995 Ugandan Constitution, serving as Chairperson of the Legal Committee during the Constituent Assembly. His legal opinions and writings remain highly respected and are still used in courts and universities today.
Prof. Kanyeihamba earned a PhD in Law from the University of Warwick (UK) and published numerous books, including the well-known “Constitutional and Political History of Uganda.” He received several honorary degrees during his lifetime in recognition of his contribution to legal scholarship.
Additionally, in the education sector, he played a vital role in establishing Kabale University, where he served as Chancellor, a position he also held at Kampala International University (KIU). He was a passionate mentor, educator, and speaker who inspired many in the legal profession and beyond.
While the family is yet to release an official funeral program, tributes have already begun pouring in from across the country. Many described him as a principled judge, fearless intellectual, and true patriot.
“He was a judge who spoke truth to power, even when it came at a personal cost. Uganda has lost a giant,” said one of his former colleagues.
Prof. Kanyeihamba’s death is a great loss to Uganda’s legal community. His voice, wisdom, and courage will be remembered for generations to come.
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