Godfrey Binaisa

Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa QC (30 May 1920 – 5 August 2010) was a Ugandan lawyer and politician who served as the fifth president of Uganda from 20th June 1979 to 12th May 1980. He came to power following the overthrow of Idi Amin and the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) transition period. Earlier, he was Attorney General of Uganda from 1962 to 1968. At the time of his death in 2010, he was Uganda's only surviving former president.

Education and early career Born in Kampala, Binaisa was initially a lawyer.

In 1969 Binaisa went into private legal practice, and after Idi Amin took power in 1971, he went into exile first to the United Kingdom where in London he was employed by the London office of Graham & James LLP, an international maritime law firm. Following that he moved to the United States, where he served as a "paralegal" at the main office of Graham & James in San Francisco. After his presidency ended he returned to London for a time and then ultimately practised law in Mount Vernon, New York. While in the US, he became a member of Uganda Freedom Union, one of several anti-Amin groups in exile.

Presidency Following the overthrow of Idi Amin in 1979, Binaisa returned to Uganda. After Idi Amin, Yusuf Lule served as the interim president for 68 days. On 20 June 1979,

When Binaisa removed the army Chief of Staff, Brigadier Oyite Ojok, he was himself removed from office on 12 May 1980 by the Military Commission, a powerful organ of the UNLF headed by Paulo Muwanga, and whose deputy was Yoweri Museveni (then leader of Uganda Patriotic Movement and the current president of Uganda (1986-to date)). The country was then led by the Presidential Commission of Uganda (set up a few days after the coup) with, among others, Paulo Muwanga, Yoweri Museveni, Oyite Ojok and Tito Okello.

The Presidential Commission ruled Uganda until the December 1980 general elections. They met through the internet.

Death Binaisa died in his sleep on 5 August 2010. He was 90 years old and had suffered a stroke or heart attack earlier in the year. Someone tried to rouse him for a morning shower but he had died in the night. Binaisa was granted a state funeral.