In 1991, just after he had retired from the position of Chief Accountant at the Uganda Coffee Marketing Board, Jimmy Mugambe Kiwanuka went to purchase a new Toyota Sprinter registration number UPE 575.
Little did the Bachelor of Commerce graduate at Makerere University would instantly die in the same vehicle, hours after its purchase. “He bought the vehicle in the afternoon but around 11.00 pm on the same day, he died in an accident.” A family member recounts.
Mugambe left behind 13 children, amongst whom was Kiryowa Kiwanuka. The then 18 year old was due for higher education. His mother, who stayed in the United States at that time, struggled to pay KK’s school and tuition fees through Kings College Buddo, Makerere College School and later Makerere University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws Degree.
It is through his higher secondary and university education that the flamboyant Kiryowa met with Edwin Karugire, with whom the two have worked on Uganda’s landmark litigation engagements.
Karugire is husband to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s daughter Natasha Karugire Museveni.
Born to the Kulubya Family, Kiryowa is a grandson to Jolly Joe Kiwanuka Ssenkubuge and Phenehas Mugambe. Jolly Joe Kiwanuka is a former National Leader, founder of the Express Football club and the Uganda Peoples Union which was later merged with Uganda National Congress to form the current Uganda People’s Congress.
His other grandparent Phenehas Mugambe was the government printer, leading the Uganda Printing and Publishing Company in Entebbe.
“Both his grandparents were disciplinarians and worked excessively hard to ensure that they educated their children including Kiryowa Kiwanuka’s father Jimmy Mugambe and uncles including the late Hannington Kiwanuka, the late chairman of Express FC,” a family member says.
Kiryowa’s turning up on to an inverted pyramid with great legal power came after engaging in great litigation processes including arguing election petitions in 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021.
KK, as he is usually called has successfully represented clients in many of the country’s landmark commercial disputes and heads the firm’s dispute resolution department.
He has also distinguished himself as an energy law practitioner which led to his appointment in 2015 to fill the only legal slot on the 7 member inaugural board of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, which position he holds to date.
He is also an ardent golfer and a football fan. He has served in various capacities in golf administration at the club level and at national level as President of Uganda Golf Union leading the national team in many coveted regional championship wins.
He currently serves as Chairman of Express Football Club, a Ugandan super league football team. “His professional competence suits his task,” says Robert Kabushenga, the former Chief Executive Officer of the New Vision, a state owned newspaper.
Joseph Sabiiti, a Political Reporter with NBS TV while speaking on the Morning Breeze also praised Kiryowa was a man who has been serving the roles of the Attorney General even when he was behind the scenes. “He now comes to the fore front to continue serving,” he added.
A Masters graduate of Petroleum Law and Policy from the University of Dundee, Scotland, Kiryowa will now be the chief Litigant for the republic of Uganda. But will he fit in such position?
“He has represented Uganda at home and abroad. At his age, he has stood in almost all high profile cases and is now fit to be the Attorney General of the Republic of Uganda, handling the country’s main oil resource,” says Elbert Byenkya another senior advocate in the country.
Kiryowa will now replace Mr William Byaruhanga who served in the same capacity for the past five years.
He is also an ardent football and golfer. He has held several administrative roles in golf administration both at club and national level having previously served as president of Uganda Golf Union, member of Entebbe Club, Jinja Sports Club among others.
