The Ugandan government is seeking to revive a deeply controversial legal practice—allowing civilians to be prosecuted in military courts—just months after the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional.
In a move that has sparked concern among human rights defenders and opposition leaders, Uganda’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Nobert Mao, announced on Thursday that a new bill has been drafted and is awaiting cabinet approval. Once greenlit, it will be presented to parliament.
If passed, the legislation would define “exceptional circumstances” under which a civilian can be subjected to military law, effectively overriding the Supreme Court’s January decision that banned such trials. That ruling had forced authorities to transfer several high-profile cases—including that of opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye—to civilian courts.
Besigye, a longtime critic and former presidential challenger to President Yoweri Museveni, has spent nearly five months in detention. He was arrested in neighboring Kenya last November and later extradited to Uganda, where he was charged in a military court with illegal possession of firearms, among other accusations. His lawyers maintain that the charges are politically motivated.
Human rights activists have long accused Museveni’s administration of misusing military courts to silence political opposition. They argue that such courts lack the transparency and impartiality of the civilian judicial system and have often been used as a tool of political repression. The government, however, has consistently denied these claims.
The latest legislative push has been met with swift criticism from opposition groups and civil society organizations, who say it undermines judicial independence and the rule of law.
“This is nothing short of a blatant attempt to criminalize dissent and keep political opponents in check,” said one rights advocate based in Kampala. “Reintroducing military trials for civilians is a step backward for justice and democracy in Uganda.”
The bill’s progress will be closely watched by both local and international observers concerned about Uganda’s human rights record and the erosion of civil liberties.
As the debate unfolds, all eyes will be on Uganda’s parliament to see whether it upholds the Supreme Court’s decision—or paves the way for a return to military-style justice for civilians.
