- Uganda has reintroduced a law allowing civilians to be tried in military courts in specific cases.
- Supreme Court had earlier ruled the previous law unconstitutional.
- Opposition boycotted the vote, calling it illegal and unfair.
- The amendment includes new conditions, such as legal training for tribunal officers.
- Critics fear the law will be used to target government opponents and activists.
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has signed a controversial amendment into law that allows civilians to be charged in military courts, despite an earlier court decision that blocked such trials.
The new law comes just months after the Supreme Court declared similar trials unlawful, citing a lack of fairness and independence in military court processes.
Last month, the country’s parliament passed the amendment under tight police security. However, most opposition lawmakers stayed away in protest, accusing the government of ignoring a court ruling and trying to silence critics through force.
Previously, civilians could be tried in military courts if caught with items like guns or army uniforms. Activists say that the law was often misused against political opponents.
The amendment now demands that judges in military tribunals must be legally trained and act independently. It also says that they should not be influenced by military pressure while making decisions.
Even so, the law still gives room for civilians to be taken to military court if found with weapons or other military gear.
Uganda’s military spokesperson, Col. Chris Magezi, defended the decision, saying it is aimed at dealing firmly with armed criminals and political groups that may cause violence.
“This law will deal decisively with armed violent criminals… and ensure national security is protected,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Opposition leader Bobi Wine, however, believes the amendment targets people like him. He claims it’s a strategy to control dissent.
“All of us in the opposition are being targeted by the act,” he told AFP.
The Uganda Law Society, a professional body of lawyers, said it will take legal steps to challenge the new law’s constitutionality.
Human rights groups have long said that these courts are used to silence opponents. They argue that evidence can be planted, and once in a military system, justice is rarely served.
“If you’re a political opponent, they’ll find a way to get you to a military court. After that, justice never finds your door,” said lawyer Gawaya Tegulle on the Focus on Africa podcast.
He added that people often spend years in remand waiting for orders from top military officials, sometimes with no trials at all.
One recent case was that of opposition figure Kizza Besigye. He was arrested in Kenya, brought back to Uganda, and accused in a military court of holding guns and planning to buy weapons—charges he denied.
Those charges were later dropped, and the case moved to a civilian court after the earlier Supreme Court ruling.
Museveni Calls Court Ruling ‘Wrong Decision’
President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, rejected the Supreme Court’s decision. He insisted that the people, not judges, should decide how the country is governed.
He has often backed military trials, saying civilian courts are too slow to handle cases involving guns and security threats.
