Tribute to the Late Prof. George Wilson Kanyeihamba (1939–2025)

July 21, 2025

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An Intellectual Giant, Judicial Luminary, and Statesman

On Monday 14th July 2025, the nation was struck by the sorrowful news of the passing of one of Uganda’s most revered legal minds and distinguished sons, Prof. George Wilson Kanyeihamba, who breathed his last at Nakasero Hospital at the age of 85.

Born on 11th August 1939 in Kinkizi County, present-day Kanungu District, Prof. Kanyeihamba rose from humble beginnings to become one of Africa’s most formidable voices in law, governance, and human rights. He was the eleventh child of the Late Zakaliya Bafwokworora and Kyenda Malyamu Kyakundwa, raised in the hilly heartland of southwestern Uganda.

His academic journey began at Hamurwa Church School and Nyaruhanga Primary School in Kabale, proceeded to Kigezi High School and Busoga College Mwiri, and later took him to the United Kingdom. There, he attained his Advanced Level Certificate at Norwich, followed by a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Portsmouth University in 1964. His thirst for knowledge led him to Warwick University where he obtained both his Master’s and Doctorate (PhD) in Law in 1974.

Prof. Kanyeihamba was not just a man of the law, he was an embodiment of it. From 1979 to 1986 he lectured at the University of Wales Cardiff before returning to Uganda to contribute to rebuilding the nation under the NRM government. He became Uganda’s first Minister of Commerce, then Minister of Justice and Attorney General (1989 to 1991), and a respected Member of the National Resistance Council (NRC) representing Rubanda County (1986 to 1996).

His towering contribution came in 1995 when he served as Chairperson of the Legal and Drafting Committee of Uganda’s 1995 Constitution, a historic moment that defined the country’s democratic foundation. Later he was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda in 1997, serving with distinction until his retirement in 2009.

Prof. Kanyeihamba also had a distinguished international presence. He was a Pioneer Judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (2006 to 2008), the first President of the African chapter of the International Association of Refugee Law Judges, and a Member of the International Criminal Court Bar Council.

A pioneer in private practice as well, he founded G W Kanyeihamba and Co Advocates and Consultants which ran from 1999 to 2013. He was appointed Uganda’s first Presidential Advisor on Human Rights (1995 to 1999), further evidence of his commitment to justice and ethical governance.

Beyond his judicial and political roles, Prof. Kanyeihamba was a true academic. He served as a Lecturer of Law at Makerere University (1990 to 1998), and taught at Uganda Christian University (2003 to 2010). As Pioneer Chancellor of Kabale University (2002 to 2015), he oversaw its transformation into a public university. He also served as Chancellor of Kampala International University, nurturing generations of legal and academic professionals.

His passing leaves a deep void in Uganda’s legal, academic, and political spheres. Prof. Kanyeihamba’s legacy is not just in the institutions he served or the laws he helped shape, but in the integrity, wisdom, and courage he consistently displayed. He was a mentor, a nation builder, and an unwavering voice for justice.

The Government of Uganda, under the directive of H E Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has honored him with an Official Burial in recognition of his lifelong service and contribution to the country and the African continent at large.

We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family, the legal fraternity, the academic community, the Banyakigezi, and all Ugandans. May we carry forward his ideals of integrity, scholarship, patriotism, and justice for generations to come. May the soul of Prof. George Wilson Kanyeihamba rest in eternal peace.
A life of service. A legacy that endures

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