Uganda Reinstates Military Trials for Civilians Amid Opposition Outcry

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed into law a controversial amendment allowing civilians to be tried in military courts under certain circumstances, reversing a  Supreme Court ruling that deemed such trials unconstitutional.  

The previous law permitted military trials for civilians found in possession of military equipment, such as firearms or uniforms. However, activists and opposition figures argued that the provision was abused to target government critics.  

The amendment, passed last month amid heavy police presence and an opposition boycott, introduces safeguards, including requiring military tribunal judges to have legal qualifications and ensuring judicial independence. However, civilians can still face military prosecution if accused of possessing military hardware.  

Army spokesperson Col. Chris Magezi defended the law, stating it would “deal decisively with armed violent criminals” and prevent “militant political groups from subverting democracy.”  

Opposition leader Bobi Wine condemned the move, warning that the law would be weaponized against dissent. “All of us in the opposition are being targeted,” he told AFP.  

The Uganda Law Society announced plans to challenge the amendment’s constitutionality, echoing concerns from rights groups that military courts lack impartiality and due process.  

Human rights lawyer Gawaya Tegulle warned that political opponents risk unfair trials, prolonged detention, and harsher sentences in military courts.  

The amendment follows the high-profile case of opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who was charged in a military court before his case was moved to a civilian court after the Supreme Court ruling.  

President Museveni, in power since 1986, dismissed the court’s earlier decision as a “wrong judgment,” asserting that Uganda is “governed by the people, not judges.”  

The reinstatement of military trials for civilians highlights Uganda’s deepening authoritarianism. Museveni’s regime once again signals its disregard for judicial independence, tightening its grip on dissent by bypassing the Supreme Court’s ruling. 

Opposition figures now face heightened risks of arbitrary detention, politicized prosecutions, and severe penalties in military courts, where due process is weak. The law effectively criminalizes dissent, allowing the government to silence critics under the guise of national security.  

With legal challenges likely to be ignored, Uganda’s opposition must brace for intensified repression, while international observers warn of further erosion of democracy under Museveni’s prolonged rule.