Godfrey Binaisa
Encyclopedia
Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa QC
(30 May 1920 – 5 August 2010) was a Uganda
n lawyer who was Attorney General of Uganda from 1962 to 1968 and later served as President of Uganda
from June 1979 to May 1980. At his death he was Uganda's only surviving former president.
. He then earned a LLB in law from King's College London
in 1955 and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn
in 1956. He was appointed a Queen's counsel
(QC) and had a private law practice in Kampala.
Binaisa was a member of the political parties Uganda National Congress
and United Congress Party during the 1950s. He later joined Uganda People's Congress
which in 1962 formed the first post-independence government of Uganda. He was appointed the Attorney General in 1962, a position in which he served until 1968, when he resigned over disagreements with President Milton Obote
concerning constitutional matters, particularly the presidential powers of detention.
In 1969 Binaisa went into private legal practice, and after Idi Amin
took power in 1971, he went into exile first to the United Kingdom where in London he was employed by the London office Graham and James, an international maritime law firm. Following that he came to the United States, where he served as a "paralegal" at the main office of Graham and James in San Francisco. After his presidency ended he returned to London for a time and then ultimately practiced law in Mount Vernon
, New York. While in the US, he became a member of Uganda Freedom Union, one of several anti-Amin groups in exile.
served as the interim president for 68 days. On 20 June 1979, Binaisa was appointed President of Uganda
by the National Consultative Commission, which was then the supreme governing body of the Uganda National Liberation Front
(UNLF), a coalition of former Ugandan exiles who had helped remove Idi Amin.
When Binaisa removed the army Chief of Staff, Brigadier Oyite Ojok, he was himself removed from office on 12 May 1980 by the Military Commission, a powerful organ of the UNLF headed by Paulo Muwanga
, and whose deputy was Yoweri Museveni
(then leader of Uganda Patriotic Movement
). The country was then led by the Presidential Commission of Uganda
(set up a few days after the coup) with among others Paulo Muwanga, Yoweri Museveni, Oyite Ojok and Tito Okello
.
The Presidential Commission ruled Uganda until the December 1980 general elections
. Binaisa had joined, and was made vice president of the Uganda Patriotic Movement. The elections were won by Milton Obote's Uganda Peoples Congress, however, the results were disputed, leading Museveni to launch a guerrilla rebellion, which subsequently led him to gain the presidency in 1986.
The development of the "Movement
" political system previously used by Museveni's government has often been attributed to Binaisa. Calling the ideology "Umbrella", Binaisa used the system to consolidate his position during his own presidency, seeking to unite all Ugandans in the same political fold. Whether this was a move of pure self-interest or a genuine attempt to curb the more divisive elements of Ugandan politics is open to debate.
Throughout the early 1980s and 1990s, Binaisa lived in New York practising law and later returned to Uganda, where he led a quiet life in retirement. He was the only former president of Uganda being looked after by the state under provisions of the Constitution of Uganda
.
Blessing Ceremony. They met through the internet. The marriage ended in July 2005.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(30 May 1920 – 5 August 2010) was a Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n lawyer who was Attorney General of Uganda from 1962 to 1968 and later served as President of Uganda
President of Uganda
-List of Presidents of Uganda:-Affiliations:-See also:*Uganda*Vice President of Uganda*Prime Minister of Uganda*Politics of Uganda*History of Uganda*Political parties of Uganda...
from June 1979 to May 1980. At his death he was Uganda's only surviving former president.
Education and early career
Binaisa was initially a lawyer. He was educated at King's College Budo and Makerere CollegeMakerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
. He then earned a LLB in law from King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
in 1955 and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1956. He was appointed a Queen's counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(QC) and had a private law practice in Kampala.
Binaisa was a member of the political parties Uganda National Congress
Uganda National Congress
Uganda National Congress , Ugandas first political party was formed in 1952 by Ignatius Musazi. It replaced the Uganda African Farmers Union after it was banned by the British colonial administration....
and United Congress Party during the 1950s. He later joined Uganda People's Congress
Uganda People's Congress
The Uganda People's Congress is a political party in Uganda.Uganda People's Congress was founded in 1960 by Milton Obote, who led the country to Independence and later served two presidential terms under the party's banner...
which in 1962 formed the first post-independence government of Uganda. He was appointed the Attorney General in 1962, a position in which he served until 1968, when he resigned over disagreements with President Milton Obote
Milton Obote
Apolo Milton Obote , Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda towards independence from the British colonial administration in 1962.He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971, but...
concerning constitutional matters, particularly the presidential powers of detention.
In 1969 Binaisa went into private legal practice, and after Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
took power in 1971, he went into exile first to the United Kingdom where in London he was employed by the London office Graham and James, an international maritime law firm. Following that he came to the United States, where he served as a "paralegal" at the main office of Graham and James in San Francisco. After his presidency ended he returned to London for a time and then ultimately practiced law in Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
, New York. While in the US, he became a member of Uganda Freedom Union, one of several anti-Amin groups in exile.
The presidency
Following the overthrow of Idi Amin in 1979, Binaisa returned to Uganda. After Idi Amin, Yusuf LuleYusuf Lule
Yusuf Kironde Lule was provisional president of Uganda between 13 April and 20 June 1979. His name is sometimes spelled Yusufu.-Early years:...
served as the interim president for 68 days. On 20 June 1979, Binaisa was appointed President of Uganda
President of Uganda
-List of Presidents of Uganda:-Affiliations:-See also:*Uganda*Vice President of Uganda*Prime Minister of Uganda*Politics of Uganda*History of Uganda*Political parties of Uganda...
by the National Consultative Commission, which was then the supreme governing body of the Uganda National Liberation Front
Uganda National Liberation Front
The Uganda National Liberation Front was a political group formed by exiled Ugandans opposed to the rule of Idi Amin with an accompanying military wing, the Uganda National Liberation Army . UNLA fought alongside Tanzanian forces in the Uganda-Tanzania War that led to the overthrow of Idi Amin's...
(UNLF), a coalition of former Ugandan exiles who had helped remove Idi Amin.
When Binaisa removed the army Chief of Staff, Brigadier Oyite Ojok, he was himself removed from office on 12 May 1980 by the Military Commission, a powerful organ of the UNLF headed by Paulo Muwanga
Paulo Muwanga
Paulo Muwanga was the chairman of the governing Military Commission, and the de-facto President of Uganda for a few days in May 1980 until the establishment of the Presidential Commission of Uganda. The Presidential Commission, with Muwanga as chairman, held the office of President of Uganda...
, and whose deputy was Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
(then leader of Uganda Patriotic Movement
Uganda Patriotic Movement
The Uganda Patriotic Movement is a defunct political party in Uganda. It was founded by Yoweri Museveni and participated in the December 1980 general elections, which were won by Milton Obote's Uganda People's Congress...
). The country was then led by the Presidential Commission of Uganda
Presidential Commission of Uganda
The Presidential Commission of Uganda held the office of President of Uganda between 22 May and 15 December 1980. It was composed as follows:* Saulo Musoke* Polycarp Nyamuchoncho* Yoweri Hunter Wacha-Olwol-See also:*Uganda...
(set up a few days after the coup) with among others Paulo Muwanga, Yoweri Museveni, Oyite Ojok and Tito Okello
Tito Okello
General Tito Lutwa Okello , was a Ugandan Military officer and politician. He was the President of Uganda from 29 July 1985 until 26 January 1986.-Background:Tito Okello was born in 1914 in Kitgum District...
.
The Presidential Commission ruled Uganda until the December 1980 general elections
Elections in Uganda
Uganda provides national elections for a president and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term. The National Assembly has 292 members. 214 members are elected without party labels directly in single seat constituencies, while 78 members are elected from so-called special...
. Binaisa had joined, and was made vice president of the Uganda Patriotic Movement. The elections were won by Milton Obote's Uganda Peoples Congress, however, the results were disputed, leading Museveni to launch a guerrilla rebellion, which subsequently led him to gain the presidency in 1986.
The development of the "Movement
National Resistance Movement
The National Resistance Movement , commonly referred to as the Movement, is a political organization in Uganda.Until a referendum in 2005, Uganda held elections on a non-party basis. The NRM dominates parliament, however, and is expected to continue to do so. The presidential elections of 12 March...
" political system previously used by Museveni's government has often been attributed to Binaisa. Calling the ideology "Umbrella", Binaisa used the system to consolidate his position during his own presidency, seeking to unite all Ugandans in the same political fold. Whether this was a move of pure self-interest or a genuine attempt to curb the more divisive elements of Ugandan politics is open to debate.
Throughout the early 1980s and 1990s, Binaisa lived in New York practising law and later returned to Uganda, where he led a quiet life in retirement. He was the only former president of Uganda being looked after by the state under provisions of the Constitution of Uganda
Constitution of Uganda
The Constitution of Uganda is the supreme law of Uganda. The current constitution was adopted on October 8, 1995. It sanctions a republican form of government with a powerful president. 2005 amendments removed presidential term limits and legalized a multi-party political system.-External links:*...
.
Wedding
Binaisa married Tomoko Yamamoto on 26 July 2004 in a Unification ChurchUnification Church
The Unification Church is a new religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. In 1954, the Unification Church was formally and legally established in Seoul, South Korea, as The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity . In 1994, Moon gave the church...
Blessing Ceremony. They met through the internet. The marriage ended in July 2005.
Death
Binaisa died in his sleep on 5 August 2010. He was 90 years old and had suffered a stroke or heart attack earlier in the year. Someone tried to rouse him for a morning shower but he had died in the night. Binaisa was granted a state funeral.External links
- Profile from MyUganda
- People Magazine: A Survivor—barely—as Uganda's President, Godfrey Binaisa Finds Life in Brooklyn a Beach
See also
- UgandaUgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
- Uganda since 1979Uganda since 1979The history of Uganda since 11 April 1979 comprises the history of Uganda since the end of the dictatorship of Idi Amin. This period has seen the second rule of Milton Obote and the presidency of Yoweri Museveni since 1986, in which Ugandan politics have been dominated by the National Resistance...
, part of the History of UgandaHistory of UgandaThe history of Uganda comprises the history of the territory of present-day Uganda in East Africa and the peoples inhabiting the region.-Early independent Uganda:...
series. - President of UgandaPresident of Uganda-List of Presidents of Uganda:-Affiliations:-See also:*Uganda*Vice President of Uganda*Prime Minister of Uganda*Politics of Uganda*History of Uganda*Political parties of Uganda...
- Politics of UgandaPolitics of UgandaUganda is a presidential republic, in which the President of Uganda is both head of state and head of government; there is a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly...
- Political parties of Uganda