Justice Bernard Namanya, a judge of the High Court, has removed Elias Naluyimbazi Nalukoola from his position in Parliament. This happened just two months after Nalukoola, a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), was sworn in. The decision has caused disappointment among opposition politicians and their supporters. If the appeal against the ruling fails, a new election may be held in Kawempe North.
So, who is Justice Bernard Namanya, the judge behind this important decision?
Justice Namanya became an acting High Court judge in 2022. He has a strong educational background in law. He earned a Master of Laws (LL.M) from Makerere University in 2004, a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre in 2000, and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Makerere University in 1999. He became an advocate of the High Court of Uganda in 2000.
He is a member of several professional organizations, including the Uganda Law Society, the East African Law Society, and Advocates for International Development (A4ID). With more than 20 years of legal experience, Namanya has worked in many areas of law, such as environmental law, climate change law, commercial law, medical negligence, energy and mining law, as well as court cases and arbitration.
Namanya has provided legal services to a wide range of clients. These include government ministries and agencies, banks, United Nations agencies, foreign embassies, international organizations, companies, individual clients, and non-governmental organizations. One notable case was when he successfully defended the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) in a land case in the High Court.
He is especially interested in climate change issues. He advised the Ugandan government during the creation of the National Climate Change Act in 2021. He is a member of Climate-Change Concern, a local NGO, and served on the Compliance Committee of the Kyoto Protocol under the UN between 2006 and 2009.
Justice Namanya also works on international climate law matters. He is Uganda’s National Rapporteur on Global Climate Litigation. He is involved with several global climate law organizations, including the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University in the U.S., the World Commission on Environmental Law, and Climate Strategies in the UK.
His ruling against Nalukoola has raised concern among opposition leaders, who fear it could set a dangerous example that the current government may use to challenge future opposition wins, especially in the 2026 elections.
