The Judiciary has paid tribute to the late Justice Prof. George Wilson Kanyeihamba, who passed away on July 14, 2025, at the age of 85.
Justice Kanyeihamba was a distinguished author, academic, politician, and judge. He served as a Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament, and Chairperson of the Legal Committee of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1995 Constitution of Uganda.
Born on August 11, 1939, in Kinaba, Kinkizi District in the Kigezi Region, he was educated at Kigezi High School, Busoga College Mwiri, and Norwich City College. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws from Portsmouth University in the 1970s and was later awarded a Doctorate of Laws by the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.
In 1997, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Uganda, where he served with distinction for 12 years until his retirement in November 2009. In 2006, he was elected as one of the inaugural judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
According to the Judiciary, Justice Kanyeihamba made significant contributions to establishing the Court’s credibility and shaping its early jurisprudence in the protection and promotion of human rights across Africa.
“His rulings and legal writings demonstrate a strong commitment to constitutionalism, justice, and human rights—values he steadfastly upheld throughout his life,” the Judiciary stated.
He is fondly remembered for his passionate advocacy for the rights of refugees and other vulnerable groups. Notably, his article Improving the Standards of Human Rights and Refugee Protection in Africa was published in May 1987 in Refuge: Canada’s Journal on Refugees (Vol. 6, No. 4).
Justice Kanyeihamba was a prolific scholar whose writings inspired countless legal professionals in Uganda and around the world. His work, Kanyeihamba’s Commentaries on Law, Politics and Governance (2006), highlighted critical issues in the delivery of justice and became a key reference for practitioners and scholars alike.
“He is remembered for his distinguished contributions to literature on constitutionalism, law, human rights, and justice,” the Judiciary added. His other notable works include Constitutional Law and Government in Uganda: The Theory and Practice of Constitutionalism in Uganda and Constitutional and Political History of Uganda: From 1894 to Present (2010).
Prof. Kanyeihamba also held various academic and leadership roles. He served as Chancellor of Kampala International University and Kabale University, and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Kabale University.
He taught at several institutions including Nsamizi Law School in Entebbe (now the Law Development Centre), Portsmouth College (now the University of Portsmouth), Lanchester Polytechnic (now Coventry University), and the University of Wales in Cardiff.
Prof. Kanyeihamba also undertook numerous special assignments. These included serving as Chairperson of the Committee on Judges’ Terms and Conditions of Service, member of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (Kampala), and Legal Adviser to the President of Uganda on Human Rights and International Affairs. He also served as Chairperson of the Legal and Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly and Chairperson of the International Commission of Jurists Advisory Panel of Eminent Commonwealth Judicial Experts.
His legacy is defined by unwavering integrity, moral courage, and tireless defense of judicial independence and constitutionalism. The Judiciary, the legal fraternity, and the nation mourn the loss of a legal giant.
The Judiciary extends its deepest sympathies to the family of the late Justice Kanyeihamba, the President of the Republic of Uganda, members of the legal and academic communities, the people of Uganda, and his international colleagues and friends, all of whom have been profoundly touched by his life and work.
