In the final chapter of his extraordinary life, retired Supreme Court Justice Prof. George Wilson Kanyeihamba underwent a devastating medical procedure—both of his legs were amputated in a last-ditch effort to save him from the aggressive cancer that had ravaged his lower limbs.
Medical sources close to the family confirmed that doctors made the painful decision to amputate Justice Kanyeihamba’s legs after the disease began to eat away at his limbs, threatening to overwhelm his entire body. “The doctors feared that if the legs were not removed, the cancer would rapidly spread and shut down the rest of his system,” a source said.
The once-vibrant constitutional scholar and human rights defender spent his final weeks bedridden and fragile, under constant care at Nakasero Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, where he had been admitted for more than a month.
Despite the grave medical state, Justice Kanyeihamba remained mentally sharp, reportedly dictating reflections and expressing concern for Uganda’s legal and political direction until his final days.
He died on the morning of Monday, July 14, 2025, at the age of 85, just weeks shy of his 86th birthday on August 11.
Delayed Burial
Plans for his burial have been delayed after his wife, Mrs. Susan Kanyeihamba, went into shock upon learning of his death.
She is currently admitted in the United Kingdom under doctor’s supervision, with medics monitoring her ability to undertake long-haul travel.
The family had hoped to travel back to Uganda by Wednesday night, but this has been postponed indefinitely due to her unstable condition.
Family members told online media outlet The Kampala Report that Mrs. Kanyeihamba, who has lived in the UK for years, was especially close to the late judge and emotionally shattered by the news.
A family meeting on Monday evening, chaired by Joel Kanyeihamba—the judge’s son based abroad—failed to finalize a burial date. The government, which is expected to coordinate official honors for the late jurist, has also not yet issued a formal statement, complicated further by the absence of an official spokesperson following Ofwono Opondo’s resignation.
A Modest Vigil
As the nation awaits the final burial program, mourners have been quietly gathering at his Buziga residence in Kampala. The home remains largely closed, but the veranda and compound continue to host friends, former colleagues, and mentees.
In his final months, Kanyeihamba was surrounded by a small circle, including his adopted daughter Betty Nabitosi, and two young media professionals—Arnold Anthony Mukose and Norman Tumuhimbise—from Alternative Digitalk, who were both mentees and companions during his declining health.
Scholar, Jurist, Statesman
Born on August 11, 1939 in Kinaba, Kinkizi District, Prof. Kanyeihamba rose from humble beginnings to become one of Uganda’s most revered legal figures. He chaired the Legal and Drafting Committee that birthed the 1995 Constitution, served as Attorney General, Minister of Justice, Minister of Commerce, and finally as Justice of the Supreme Court from 1997 until his retirement in 2009.
Kanyeihamba earned a PhD in Law from the University of Warwick and held academic posts in the UK before returning home. He also served as Chancellor of Kampala International University and Kabale University, and was a relentless advocate for judicial independence and human rights, often speaking out fearlessly—even against the regime he once served.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Kanyeihamba, their children Sarah, Joel, and Ruth, and adopted daughter Betty Nabitosi Kanyeihamba.
Tributes have continued to pour in from all sectors of society.
