Background
Godfrey Binaisa was born on May 30, 1920, in Kampala.
Godfrey Binaisa was born on May 30, 1920, in Kampala.
Educated at King’s College, Budo and Makerere University. He left for King's College, London, to read law, and took an LLB in 1955 and was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1956.
He returned to Kampala and went into private legal practice.
Though he was active in nationalist politics first in the Uganda National Congress and later the Uganda Peoples’ Congress, where his talents were recognised by Milton Obote he did not stand for election, but Obote was able to appoint him Attorney-General as an exofficio member.
In May 1962 he became the first African to hold this post. He was made a Queen’s Counsel in July, shortly before Uganda’s independence in October 1962. Binaisa, a modernist and loyal UPC supporter, was also a Muganda and his advice was invaluable in the long constitutional struggle which developed between Obote and the Kabaka of Buganda.
But when the gold smuggling scandal of February 1966 resulted in a showdown between Obote and five of his ministers, Binaisa was an unhappy witness, as they were detained without trial. Then came the suspension of the constitution and Binaisa was given the unwelcome task of going to London and explaining Obote's position.
He felt that a showdown between the central government and the Kabaka was inevitable but he thought that Obote should have gone to the people in an election and got their support in the constitutional crisis. Instead, Obote appeared to be going it alone and riding roughshod over those who opposed him. Binaisa also disagreed on the proposed amendments to the constitution and by May 31, 1967, he found his position such an embarrassment that he resigned, ostensibly for “health reasons".
He then went back to private legal practice and was elected in 1968 as president of the Uganda Law Society and chairman of the Law Development Centre and member of the Uganda Judicial Service Commission in 1970. In 1972 he was elected chairman of the organising committee of the Commonwealth Lawyers' Conference scheduled to be held in Uganda in 1975.
Of Uganda National Congress, later of Uganda People's Congress. Uganda Judicial Service Commission 1970.
A progressive Muganda lawyer, who resisted the traditionalism and secessionism of the Kabaka and the majority of his own people, he never became a professional politician. But Milton Obote recognised his talents and chose him as his Attorney-General, where he played an important part in the constitutional battles that were to follow. But gradually he became estranged and resigned from Obote’s government three years before the military coup.