Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has revived the controversial practice of allowing military trials for civilians, signing a new law despite significant pushback from opposition lawmakers and civil rights activists. This amendment, which follows a Supreme Court ruling declaring previous military trials unconstitutional, permits the military to prosecute civilians believed to possess military equipment such as firearms and army uniforms.
Supporters of the law, including army spokesperson Col Chris Magezi, argue that it will help tackle armed criminal activities and maintain national security. However, critics, including opposition leader Bobi Wine, warn that the law is a direct threat to political opponents, saying, "All of us in the opposition are being targeted by the act."
Legal experts, including the Uganda Law Society, have vowed to challenge the amendment’s constitutionality, citing a history of military courts being misused to silence dissenters. Human rights lawyer Gawaya Tegulle highlighted serious concerns over the fairness of military trials, where defendants face extended detentions and harsher penalties than in civilian courts.
The amendment mandates that military court judges possess relevant legal qualifications and must act independently. However, critics assert that the law’s implementation will undermine justice and possibly escalate political persecution in Uganda, a country where Museveni has held power since 1986.
