Uganda confirms military trials for civilians despite Supreme Court ruling

Opposition figures and human rights organizations criticize the government for trying to silence its opponents, which the government denies. The controversial bill that Uganda’s parliament approved allows military tribunals for civilians has drawn condemnation from the country’s parliament.

The country’s top court rejected the practice in January, but it has since been practiced there for a while. The Supreme Court had determined that military tribunals lacked the legal authority to judec civilians and lacked fair trial standards.

The legislation, which allows civilians to be tried in military courts, was passed on Tuesday by lawmakers in spite of that ruling.

You showed today that you are fearless Americans! In a post on X, President Yoweri Museveni, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the head of the military and his son, said, “Uganda will remember your courage and commitment.”

After the party claimed the opposition activist had been abducted, Kainerugaba earlier this month claimed to be holding a missing opposition activist in his basement and threatened to use violence against him.

In response to concerns about alleged threats to state stability and armed opposition, Museveni’s government has frequently defended military trials as necessary for national security.

According to a spokesman for the military, the legislation will “defend decisively against armed violent criminals, deter the formation of militant political groups that seek to subvert democratic processes, and ensure national security is firmly founded,” according to Chris Magezi, a spokesman for the military.

However, critics claim that this action is a result of broader repression. During the debate on the bill, opposition MP Jonathan Odur told parliament, “There is no legal basis for the trial of civilians in the military court.” He called the legislation “shallow, unreasonable, and unconstitutional.”

Uganda has used military courts for years to prosecute opposition figures and critics of the government.

Bobi Wine, a popular politician who now leads the opposition, was accused of illegally possessing firearms in a military court in 2018. Later, the charges were dropped.

Former opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who has contested Museveni in numerous elections, was detained in Kenya last year and later returned to Uganda to face a military tribunal.

His trial was moved to a civilian court after the Supreme Court’s ruling in January. The People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), his party, has refuted the accusations as politically motivated.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has previously criticized Uganda’s military courts for breaking international standards for judicial independence and fairness.

The Ugandan government has repeatedly used military courts to punish opponents and critics, according to Oryem Nyeko, senior Africa researcher at HRW, earlier this year.