Museveni Finally Breaks Silence: “Kanyeihamba Was Not Just A Judge—He Was A Revolutionary!”

By Frank Kamuntu

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has paid glowing tribute to the late Professor George Wilson Kanyeihamba, a celebrated legal scholar, judge, and statesman, who passed away this week.

In a heartfelt message addressed to Ugandans — particularly the Bazzukulu — President Museveni expressed deep sorrow upon receiving news of Professor Kanyeihamba’s death, calling it a great loss to the nation.

“It is with great sorrow that I learnt of the death of our friend Prof. Kanyeihamba,” Museveni said.

He fondly recalled first encountering Professor Kanyeihamba during the historic 1970s debate at Makerere University between Prof. Ali Mazrui and Dr. Walter Rodney — a moment that would go down in African intellectual history. Museveni vividly recounted how Rodney corrected Mazrui’s assertion that they were not “in conflict,” by stating, “We cannot be in conflict because we are not even in touch” — a powerful remark drawing the line between ideological frameworks on neocolonialism and genuine independence.

President Museveni noted that his relationship with Prof. Kanyeihamba deepened during the 1981–86 liberation struggle, where Kanyeihamba joined the NRM’s external committee while in the UK, playing a key intellectual and diplomatic role in advancing the movement’s cause abroad.

After the liberation, Prof. Kanyeihamba became a Minister in the NRM government and later served as Member of Parliament for Rubaanda County. His legal brilliance eventually earned him a seat on the Supreme Court of Uganda, where he left an indelible mark through his unwavering defense of the rule of law and constitutionalism.

“I salute his contribution to Uganda and to the NRM over the years. Condolences to his family and friends. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Museveni concluded.

Professor Kanyeihamba’s legacy spans academia, the judiciary, and politics — a rare trifecta that positioned him as one of Uganda’s most influential post-independence intellectuals.

He is survived by his family, friends, and a grateful nation that benefited from his lifelong pursuit of justice, scholarship, and national service.