Peter James Nkambo Mugerwa SC, the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Uganda, passed away on 10 November 2020 at the age of 90. 

Born on 10 January 1930, he was educated at Makerere College School and King’s College Budo. He took his first degree in Mathematics at Makerere University before he was awarded a scholarship to attend Trinity College, Cambridge to study law. He went up in 1956 and following his graduation from Cambridge in 1959, he was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn in 1960. 

He continued his studies at the Peace Palace in the Hague, subsequently becoming a lecturer there.  In 1962, he returned to Africa as a law lecturer at the University of Dar Es Salaam. 

In December 1963, he returned with his young family to Uganda to become the first Ugandan Solicitor General under Godfrey Binaisa QC, the then-Attorney General. In February 1971, following the overthrow of Milton Obote, he was appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice, posts he held until September 1973 when he was removed from these posts by Idi Amin. 

On leaving government service, Nkambo Mugerwa set up a law firm with his close friend Frederick Mpanga, formerly the Attorney General to the Kingdom of Buganda under Kabaka Mutesa II and recently returned from exile. Following the untimely death in December 1976 of Frederick Mpanga, this law firm continued in many guises under Nkambo Mugerwa’s tutelage and is today one of the leading law firms in Uganda, MMAKS Advocates.

Nkambo Mugerwa was a loyal and dedicated servant of Uganda and a traditionalist who passionately believed in the Kingdom of Buganda. He was a loyal subject of the Kabaka and was one of the lawyers who swore in Kabaka Muwanda Mutebi II at Nnagalabi in 1993. He also served as Chairman of the Buganda Land Board between 2002 and 2007. 

Following his retirement from public life, Nkambo Mugerwa lived a quietly productive life between Kampala and the farm he loved in Mukono district. Of greatest meaning to him among the many plaudits he received in his life were the award of the Order of Merit by King’s College, Budo and the formal conferment upon him of the title of Senior Counsel.

His passing is mourned by his children, their mothers, and his grandchildren, as well as a wide community of family members, friends, colleagues, and mentees, both in Uganda and abroad.

Please refer any queries to Mrs Jacqueline Nassali Nsubuga on 0772 702 372