Uganda Approves Bill Allowing Military Trials for Civilians
Uganda's parliament has passed the 2025 Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, allowing military courts to try civilians for crimes allegedly linked to the army. The move came despite a Supreme Court ruling in January 2025 that declared military trials of civilians unconstitutional.
The top court ordered the military to halt all ongoing trials of civilians and to transfer them to the civilian court system. President Yoweri Museveni is expected to sign the bill into law. If signed into law, the bill will allow military courts to try nonmilitary personnel who are accused of committing offenses in collaboration with soldiers.
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights has said that military courts "should not, in any circumstances whatsoever, have jurisdiction over civilians."
InFocus
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President Yoweri Museveni has expressed his support for military trials of civilians, saying it speeds up justice against "criminals" and ensures the "stability" of the country. In a statement addressing the controversy over the court martial of prominent opposition politician Kizza Besigye, the President said military courts "complement" civilian courts in handling cases involving firearms.
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The court martial of opposition leader Kizza Besigye may be on hold after a ruling by Uganda's Supreme Court declaring that the military court lacks jurisdiction to try civilians.
Soldiers reportedly told journalists who had gathered for the trial on Monday, February 3, 2025, that there were "no proceedings today". The ruling marks a significant victory for human rights defenders who have long
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Ugandan army (file photo).
