KAMPALA, Uganda — Professor George W. Kanyeihamba, a distinguished retired Supreme Court judge and former Cabinet Minister, has passed away at the age of 85. According to Arnold Mukose, a friend and one of his caretakers, Kanyeihamba died today, Monday, at Nakasero Hospital, where he had been admitted for nearly a month.
Mukose informed Vivid Voice News that Professor Kanyeihamba had been battling diabetes and had spent a significant period in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before his passing.
Professor Kanyeihamba was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1997 and served until his retirement in November 2009.
His extensive career in public service included significant roles such as Minister of Commerce, Minister of Justice, and Attorney General.
Notably, Kanyeihamba was one of three Supreme Court justices who, in 2006, ruled that the re-election of President Museveni was sufficiently fraudulent to warrant nullification.
Born on August 11, 1939, in Kinaba, Kinkizi district, Professor Kanyeihamba’s educational journey spanned several institutions, including Hamurwa Church School, Nyaruhanga Anglican Church Primary School, Nyakatare Church School, Kigezi High School, Busoga College Mwiri, and Norwich City College.
He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from Portsmouth University. In the 1970s, he was awarded a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.
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Beyond his judicial and ministerial roles, Professor Kanyeihamba also served as the Chancellor of both Kampala International University and Kabale University.
He held numerous other influential positions, including being a 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.
His contributions also extended to serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Kabale University, Chairman of the Legal and Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, and Chair of the International Commission of Jurists.
