Retired Supreme Court Justice Prof. George Kanyeihamba, who author of many landmark decisions and author of legal textbooks has died at the age of 85. He passed on at Nakasero hospital after a long illness largely due to old age.
He was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1997 and served up to 2009 when he retired from the bench .
Kanyeihamba served Uganda in various capacities and was Chair of the Legal Committee of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1995 Constitution .He also served as Minister of Commerce, Minister of Justice, and Attorney-General.
Former Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda , praised Kanyeihamba for leading the initial efforts in drafting the 1985 Constitution of Uganda while chairing the Legal Committee of the Constituent Assembly.
“When he became a member of the Constituent Assembly, Kanyeihamba’s credentials were so eloquent that he was made the chairman of the drafting committee of the constitution that has since guided the country,” Rugunda remarked at a recent event to celebrated the fallen judge’s illustrious career in public service.
Rugunda also highlighted Kanyeihamba’s role in founding Kabale University, a community university later handed over to the government. “We thank him for supporting such a community university,” said Rugunda.
Professor Kanyeihamba graduated with a PhD in Law from the University of Warwick in the 1970s.
A former Member of Parliament, George Wilson Kanyeihamba was born on 11 August 1939 in Kinaba, Kinkizi District, Kigezi Region.
He was the last-born and eleventh child of Zakaliya Bafwokworora and Kyenda Malyamu Kyakundwa.
He attended Hamurwa Church School, Nyaruhanga Anglican Church Primary School, Nyakatare Church School, Kigezi High School, Busoga College Mwiri, and Norwich City College.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Portsmouth University. Upon completing his undergraduate and professional studies, Kanyeihamba was appointed Lecturer at Portsmouth College, now the University of Portsmouth.
He was later appointed State Attorney, with special responsibilities for teaching law to professional classes and to London External Degree undergraduates at the Nsamizi Law School in Entebbe, which later became the Law Development Centre.
He also lectured in law at Lanchester Polytechnic, now Coventry University, and at the University of Wales in Cardiff. He authored and co-authored numerous journal articles and books.
He served as Chancellor of both Kampala International University and Kabale University.
Kanyeihamba was married to Susan Kanyeihamba. Together, they had three children: Sarah, Joel, and Ruth. He also had an adopted daughter, Betty.
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