Lawyer Elison Karuhanga has described Uganda’s new Attorney General Sam Mayanja as a jurist whose career sits at the intersection of law, politics and institutional reform, following his appointment in President Yoweri Museveni’s cabinet reshuffle.
The appointment sees Mayanja replace Kiryowa Kiwanuka, who moves to the Defence Ministry portfolio.
The reshuffle places Mayanja at the centre of Uganda’s legal system at a time when government faces key governance, land and constitutional questions.
Karuhanga noted the Attorney General’s office remains highly influential in shaping state policy, bridging executive authority, Parliament and the Judiciary.
Karuhanga said Mayanja belongs to lawyers whose careers are tied to public questions of their time, highlighting his background in private practice, politics and public service.
“There are lawyers who practice law. There are lawyers who shape institutions,” he observed, adding Mayanja’s experience in land governance and law firm leadership positions him uniquely for the role.
He further underscored the constitutional weight of the office, describing the Attorney General as both Cabinet minister and government chief legal adviser, and First Parliamentary Counsel.
He noted the office connects all three arms of government and is central in translating policy into law and defending state actions in court. This dual responsibility, he said, makes it a pillar of legal order and institutional accountability.
Karuhanga also pointed to the historical legacy of the office, held by figures including Godfrey Binaisa, Godfrey Lule, Sam Kutesa, Prof. George Kanyeihamba and Kiryowa Kiwanuka, among others.
He said the position has shaped Uganda’s constitutional and political evolution, with each holder influencing major legal and governance reforms.
Looking ahead, Karuhanga said each Attorney General must define their approach to government litigation, judicial backlog, institutional trust and balance between development and rule of law.
He stressed these are not only legal questions but national challenges shaping Uganda’s governance trajectory.
He urged a clear, consistent doctrine to guide state conduct in courts and strengthen public confidence in the justice system.