Ugandan Legal Fraternity and Opposition Leaders Mourn Sudden Death of Human Rights Lawyer Richard Baguma Rwatooro
KAMPALA — A wave of grief and shock has swept across Uganda’s legal and human rights communities following the unexpected passing of prominent human rights lawyer Counsel Richard Baguma Rwatooro.
Rwatooro, a high-profile advocate renowned for his unyielding defense of civil liberties and social justice, passed away suddenly on Wednesday night, September 2, 2026. He was widely recognized for his key role on the legal defense team representing jailed veteran opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye and his associate Hajji Obeid Lutale.
News of Rwatooro’s demise surfaced rapidly on social media, prompting an outpouring of emotional tributes from political figures, civil society organizations, and prominent members of the bar.
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A Sudden and Unexpected Loss
The exact cause of Rwatooro’s death remains undisclosed. Friends and colleagues expressed deep disbelief, noting that he had recently appeared to be in good spirits and recovering from a minor ailment.
Human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza, a close associate who collaborated with Rwatooro on numerous legal battles, recounted speaking with him just a day before his death while Rwatooro was staying with a host in Fort Portal.
“One of his friends called me crying to break the news. I had spoken to him only yesterday… He seemed to be on the road to recovery. We joked and laughed,” Kiiza shared, describing the late advocate as an inherently optimistic champion for public accountability, rule of law, and environmental protection.
Tributes Pour In Across Political Spectrum
Prominent figures in the opposition movement paid homage to Rwatooro’s courage and dedication to human rights advocacy.
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS and wife to Dr. Kizza Besigye, expressed profound grief over the loss of a key member of her husband’s defense council.
“We’ve lost Counsel Richard Baguma Rwatooro, one of the 50 lawyers who have been defending Dr. Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale in court,” Byanyima stated, remembering him as “a brilliant, thoughtful and brave human rights defender.”
Rwatooro served as part of Besigye’s legal defense team during the early proceedings following the opposition leader’s arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2024. The defense successfully contested civilian trials in military courts, leading to a landmark Supreme Court ruling in January 2025 that prohibited military tribunals from prosecuting civilians.
National Unity Platform (NUP) party leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, reflected on his personal history with the late advocate as former law school classmates.
“Very sad to hear that we have lost my good friend and Law School classmate Richard Baguma Rwatooro. Rest in peace brother, until we meet again,” Kyagulanyi expressed.
Similarly, NUP Secretary-General David Lewis Rubongoya lauded Rwatooro’s courtroom legacy, writing that he “pursued constitutionalism and the rule of law with absolute dedication and unyielding might.”
Legacy Beyond the Courtroom
Beyond high-stakes political litigation, Rwatooro’s advocacy extended deep into public policy and civic action. He worked extensively with the Civil Society Coalition on Transport in Uganda to promote road safety and challenge unlawful government roadblocks. He was also an outspoken voice against state-sponsored human rights abuses, notably calling for international pressure on civil liberties following the 2023 closure of the United Nations human rights office in Uganda.
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