Justice Nshimye battled cancer for four years, family reveals

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Family members of the late retired Supreme Court judge, Augustine Sebuturo Nshimye, have revealed that he battled lung cancer for four years.

Born on December 12, 1946, Nshimye, 80, died on Friday, April 3, 2026, after succumbing to cancer. He will be buried on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Namutamba village, Bulera sub-county in Mityana district, approximately 88 kilometres from Kampala.

Speaking on behalf of the family during a funeral service at All Saints’ Church, Nakasero, on Monday, April 6, 2026, High Court judge Allan Nshimye, a son of the deceased, revealed that his father was diagnosed with cancer in 2022.

Archbishop Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu led the service.

“My father was diagnosed with cancer in 2022. However, he did not receive treatment immediately because the doctors said they had to first know the type and stage of his cancer. They eventually told us that it was lung cancer and that he was left with eight months to die. This shocked us,” Justice Allan Nshimye narrated.

The Mbarara resident judge said the family later sought a second opinion from doctors in Kenya, who gave a prognosis of one year.

“We thank God that He has been kind to us for at least three years,” Justice Allan Nshimye said.

He added that the retired jurist had been on oxygen support until his death and thanked members of the judiciary’s top management, especially the permanent secretary, Dr Pius Bigirimana, for their support.

“Every day, we have been paying sh200,000 for the oxygen services only. I therefore thank all those who have supported us throughout these difficult moments,” Justice Allan Nshimye said.

The family also thanked President Yoweri Museveni for granting him an official burial.

Widow Edith Nshimye described the deceased as a caring husband. “For the 51 years we have been together, we called each other dad and mum,” she recalled.

Speaking on behalf of the government, lands minister Judith Nabakooba said the official burial was in recognition of his immense contribution to the country.

“As the government, we commiserate with the family and members of the legal fraternity for the loss of this great icon of law,” Nabakooba said. She added that Mityana had lost a great figure.

Principal Judge Jane Frances Abodo said the fallen judge lived a life worth celebrating.

“We thank the President for granting him an official burial. He mentored many people, and he has left a good legacy worth emulating,” Abodo said.

In his sermon, Archbishop Kaziimba urged judicial officers to reflect on their work and exercise justice with integrity.

“As you do your work, you should know that we are in transition. When you do your work, do it justly because you will also be judged by God,” Kaziimba said.

Several dignitaries, including former Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura and judicial officers at various levels, attended the service.

Who was Nshimye

Nshimye entered legal practice after completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre (LDC).

His professional journey began in the judiciary as a senior clerk in 1967, providing him with foundational experience in legal administration.

By 1986, he had risen to the position of deputy chief registrar, overseeing judicial operations and registry functions that required legal expertise. After serving in that role until 1988, he moved into private legal practice.

Before his judicial appointments, Nshimye also served as a Member of Parliament for Mityana South and held ministerial positions, drawing on his legal background during Uganda’s post-independence governance period.

As one of the founding members of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), he played roles that bridged administrative law and public policy, strengthening his reputation in public-sector legal work before joining the bench.

He was appointed a Justice of the Court of Appeal in early 2008 and was sworn in by President Yoweri Museveni on May 1, 2008, alongside other judicial officers. This marked his first substantive role on the bench.

The Court of Appeal, which also serves as the Constitutional Court, became his initial platform for appellate and constitutional work. He served there for about seven years before his elevation to the Supreme Court in September 2015.

At the Supreme Court, he handled final appeals and major constitutional cases, reflecting recognition of his experience in the judiciary.

One of his notable contributions was his role in the 2016 presidential election petition filed by Amama Mbabazi. As part of a nine-member panel, he concurred in the unanimous decision delivered on March 31, 2016, which upheld President Museveni’s victory, citing insufficient evidence to overturn the results.

In a 2015 ruling on police accountability, Nshimye led a five-justice panel that held individual officers personally liable for human rights abuses, directing the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Inspector General of Police to pursue prosecutions.

In the case involving the expulsion of NRM rebel Members of Parliament, commonly referred to as the Odoki case, Nshimye, alongside Acting Chief Justice Steven Kavuma, declined to step down after allegations of bias raised by Prof. George Kanyeihamba, stating that the claims lacked evidence.