Bobi Wine: Justice Kanyeihamba Was a Quiet Supporter of NUP

Kampala, Uganda – National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has paid glowing tribute to the late Prof. George Wilson Kanyeihamba, describing him as a “quiet but firm” supporter of the opposition movement and a fearless defender of justice and constitutionalism in Uganda.

Speaking during a moving farewell gathering held Tuesday in Buziga, Kampala, Bobi Wine said Uganda had not only lost a legal luminary but “a conscience that could not be bought, bent, or buried.”

“He gave us encouragement amidst great persecution. He was never shy to identify with us,” Bobi Wine stated.
“At a time when many doubted us, Justice Kanyeihamba boldly donned our red beret in solidarity with our cause for freedom and democracy.”

While the late justice was widely known for his vocal defense of judicial independence and his uncompromising stance on constitutional order, Bobi Wine revealed that Kanyeihamba had also stood with NUP—albeit quietly—during some of the party’s most challenging times.

Prof. Kanyeihamba passed away earlier this week at Nakasero Hospital at the age of 83, where he had been receiving intensive care. A former Supreme Court judge, constitutional law professor, and respected author, he leaves behind a legacy of courage, dissent, and a deep belief in democratic governance.

Bobi Wine praised the former jurist for always choosing principle over comfort.

“In the 2006 presidential election petition, Justice Kanyeihamba stood tall among his peers. He saw the fraud in the elections and ruled for the Constitution against the regime. For that, he was ostracized by the very judiciary he helped shape,” he said.

Despite being sidelined and sometimes ridiculed, Kanyeihamba remained outspoken, consistently warning against the decay of judicial independence in Uganda. Bobi Wine noted that the late justice frequently condemned the emergence of what he called ‘cadre judges’—jurists whose loyalty lay not with the Constitution but with the appointing authority.

“Yet even in isolation, he never lost his sense of right and wrong,” Bobi Wine said.
“He continued to write, speak, and mentor a generation that believes justice must be blind to power and influence.”

The NUP leader urged Ugandans to emulate Prof. Kanyeihamba’s unwavering courage and commitment to the truth.

“As we bid farewell to this great son of Uganda, we must commit ourselves to the path he charted—a path where justice is a right, not a favour; where speaking truth to power is not treason but duty.”

A Legacy Remembered

Prof. Kanyeihamba’s death has sparked nationwide tributes from across political and legal circles. Several former and current judges, legal practitioners, opposition leaders, and civil society actors have hailed his intellect, fearless voice, and mentorship.

The funeral ceremony in Buziga was attended by prominent political figures, legal professionals, and family members, all of whom reflected on his lifelong contribution to Uganda’s legal and political landscape.

With the country preparing for another high-stakes general election in 2026, Bobi Wine reminded mourners that the best way to honour Prof. Kanyeihamba’s legacy is to carry on his battle for constitutional governance and democratic reform.

“We shall wear the red beret with more pride, we shall speak more boldly, and we shall fight injustice wherever it lurks—because Justice Kanyeihamba walked so that we could rise.”