Uganda Passes Law to Put Civilians on Military Court Trial

(3 Minutes Read)

Human rights activists have long accused the Ugandan government of using military courts to prosecute opponents of the president.  

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed into law an amendment allowing military tribunals to try civilians under certain circumstances. This was enacted despite the Supreme Court having called such trials unconstitutional. The ruling to this effect came last year on the premise that military courts were neither impartial nor competent to exercise judicial functions.

The Ugandan parliament passed an amendment last month to address some of these issues, despite opposition lawmakers’ boycott, who claimed the new bill violated the Supreme Court’s decision.  Human rights activists have long accused the Ugandan government of using military courts to prosecute opponents of the president.

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Yoweri Museveni has spent close to 40 years in power. His aides have denied rights groups’ accusations and said only civilians who use guns for political violence were prosecuted in such tribunals. In a recent high-profile case, the military trial of opposition leader Kizza Besigye was transferred to a civilian court after the January Supreme Court ruling. Ugandan courts could still intervene against the new law if they receive a citizens’ petition.