Uganda seeks to revive military trials for civilians after Supreme Court ban
Critics have long accused President Yoweri Museveni’s administration of using military courts to silence political dissent by targeting opposition members and supporters with what they claim are baseless charges.
The Ugandan government is working on a proposal to reintroduce the trial of civilians in military courts, a move that has already raised concerns among rights groups and opposition figures.
This comes just months after the Supreme Court ruled that such prosecutions were unlawful, ordering civilian courts to handle those cases instead.
The draft law, according to Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Nobert Mao, outlines the conditions under which civilians could face military courts.
He told parliament late Thursday that the legislation was awaiting cabinet approval before being brought to lawmakers for debate.
"The law will define exceptional circumstances under which a civilian may be subject to military law," Mao explained.
Critics have long accused President Yoweri Museveni’s administration of using military courts to silence political dissent by targeting opposition members and supporters with what they claim are baseless charges.
Human rights activists argue that these prosecutions lack fairness and transparency, especially when they involve political rivals.
One of the most high-profile figures affected by military court proceedings is Kizza Besigye, a longtime opponent of Museveni and former presidential candidate.
He was arrested in Kenya in November and later moved to Uganda, where he was charged before a military tribunal with unlawful possession of firearms and other offences.
Besigye’s legal team insists that the charges are politically motivated and meant to undermine his efforts to challenge the current government.
His case was moved to civilian court earlier this year after the Supreme Court banned military trials for civilians, a decision that was hailed by civil rights advocates as a step toward justice and proper legal process.
If the new bill becomes law, it could once again place Besigye under military jurisdiction, a possibility that has reignited concerns about the erosion of civil liberties in the country.
The proposed legislation signals the government’s determination to retain the option of using military courts in certain situations, despite the judiciary’s clear stance against it.
With the draft already prepared and only pending cabinet approval, critics say the move could reverse progress made in protecting civilian rights under the law.