Kanyeihamba restored Director of Public Prosecutions office integrity, independence

KAMPALA - The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) says deceased Supreme Court judge George Kanyeihamba restored its integrity and independence.

“As a chairperson of the legal committee of the Constituent Assembly, Kanyeihamba restored the integrity and independence of the ODPP,” the office stated in its condolence message released today, July 23, 2025.

Kanyeihamba, who was scheduled to celebrate his 86th birthday on August 11, 2025, passed on at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala on Monday last week, after battling for his life for the last eight years.

The ODPP described Kanyeihamba as an eminent jurist, scholar and courageous defender of constitutionalism, human rights and the rule of law.

The ODPP also recognised Kanyeihamba’s lasting impact on prosecutorial practice in Uganda.

“His principled critiques and constructive engagement are shaping our ongoing reforms, particularly in enhancing independence, fairness, and accountability within the office,” ODPP’s statement reads in part.

The ODPP extended its heartfelt sympathy to the Kanyeihamba’s family, Judiciary, Uganda Law Society and all Ugandans who are united in mourning his loss.

“We share in the grief of the nation and celebrate the legacy of a man who remained unwavering in his principles,” ODPP eulogised.  

Accomplished individual

Kanyeihamba was an accomplished author, teacher, politician and judge who served as a Cabinet minister and Member of Parliament.

He was also the chairperson of the legal committee of the Constituent Assembly that made the 1995 Constitution.

Kanyeihamba was born in Kinaba in Kinkizi district of the Kigezi region on August 11, 1939. He attended Kigezi High School, Busoga College Mwiri and Norwich City College.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Portsmouth University in the 1970s. He was also awarded a Doctorate of Laws from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.

In 1997, he was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda, where he diligently served for 12 years. He retired in November 2009.

Kanyeihamba was elected in 2006 as one of the inaugural judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

There, he contributed significantly 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.

Kanyeihamba is also remembered for advocating for the rights of refugees and other vulnerable groups.

He is the author of the Article: Improving the Standards of Human Rights and Refugee Protection in Africa, which was published in May 1987 in Refuge: Canada’s Journal on Refugees Volume 6 Number 4.

In addition to serving on the Bench, Kanyeihamba was a distinguished scholar and prolific writer whose writings served as a source of inspiration and guidance for innumerable scholars and legal professionals in Uganda and around the world.

He gained respect and recognition on a national and international stage for his contributions to the legal and academic domains. His book: Kanyeihamba's Commentaries on Law, Politics and Governance, 2006, was one of the many that excited the legal professionals by highlighting the unsaid bottlenecks to justice service delivery in the justice sector.

He is remembered for his distinguished literature on a number of subjects, including constitutionalism, law, human rights, justice and humour, including Constitutional Law and Government in Uganda: The Theory and Practice of Constitutionalism in Uganda; Kanyeihamba's Commentaries on Law, Politics and Governance, 2006; and Constitutional and Political History of Uganda: From 1894 to Present, 2010.

Academic

Kanyeihamba was a renowned academic, who served in several positions at various universities both in Uganda and abroad. He served as the Chancellor of Kampala International University and Kabale University and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Kabale University.

He also served as Lecturer at Nsamizi Law School in Entebbe, which later became the Law Development Centre, Portsmouth College, now the University of Portsmouth, Lanchester Polytechnic, now Coventry University, and The University of Wales in Cardiff.

Special assignments

Kanyeihamba also executed special assignments including Chairperson of The Committee on Judges' Terms and Conditions of Service; Member of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, Kampala; Legal Adviser to the President of Uganda on Human Rights and International Affairs; Chairperson, Legal and Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly; and Chairperson of the International Commission of Jurists Advisory Panel of Eminent Commonwealth Judicial Experts.