Kampala, Uganda – In January, Eron Kiza, a human rights lawyer, represented the opposition chief and quadruple presidential candidate Kizza Besigye at the military court. The soldiers blocked his entry and ordered him to sit in a different section. Kiza refused. They withdrew him with force and a few minutes later, he was arrested and placed next to Besigye – as a defendant, facing accusations of betrayal. He was found guilty of contempt in court and sentenced to nine months in prison.
There was no trial, explains Kiziza, who is out of prison on bond.
The same month, the Supreme Court of Uganda judged that civilian trials in the military court – an increase in recent years – is unconstitutional. According to government figures, there are a few hundred civilians, a few thousand civilians, who are currently in police custody.
President Yoweri Museveni said on social networks that the January decision was “wrong”, adding that civilians at the military court were a way to protect Ugandans from what he called “criminals armed with firearms”.
In June, the Ugandan parliament adopted a law allowing practice, a move of criticisms call for an act of revenge after the decision of January. They fear that the law will stimulate political opposition and Stoke fears before the general elections of January 2026.
Colonel Chris Magezi, acting spokesperson for the defense forces of Ugandan peoples, said on television in May that the judiciary was overwhelmed, therefore trying certain cases which threatened national security before the military courts is essential. He underlined a disarmament in 2023 in Karamoja, where armed residents attacked neighbors and made raids through the border with Kenya.
“There is an urgent security problem to be dealt with in Karamoja which should hold,” he said. “In the civil courts, when they are released, they return to the community and again engage crimes.”
‘An individual show’
The law Allows the martial court of civilians in the event of suspected betrayal, as well as the rustling of cattle, murder, aggravated theft and more. But criticisms say that the law opens the door to generalized civil arrests.
Nkunyingi Muwada, MP for Kyadondo East, said the bill is Museveni’s attempt to dismantle the justice system and create a new system in military courts to refer politicians and opposition activists.
“It is obvious that this bill is in preparation for the elections in 2026,” said Muwada, adding that Museveni wants the political kingdom to remain “an individual spectacle”.
Sarah Bireeee, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Governance, a regional constitutional guard dog, said that the rushed adoption of the bill did not allow public participation.
“The clerk to Parliament sent an ad one day before the bill was tabled,” she said. “We had to analyze the bill and table in a few hours. We have submitted a memorandum in the hope of being invited to the committee. We have never been invited. ”
Supporters of the opposition of the general elections of 2021 have been in court since then.
“The regime wants this same court to be in place for the same purpose,” explains Bireete.
Security or oppression?
Civilians fear that the law will make them vulnerable. Namukasa Khadija, a resident of Wakiso, says that she is debating the opportunity to participate in the next elections.
“I saw the arrest, the brutality against the opposition supporters, in particular the supporters of Bobi Wine, by the armed forces in the last elections of 2021,” she said. “I saw the brutality against journalists in the recent election of Kawempe North, and I do not know if I am ready to attend a political rally in the 2026 elections because I do not think it will be sure.”
Others, however, are convinced that the law will promote national security.
Anthony Akol, deputy for Parliament for Kilak North, said the bill will protect Ugandans from armed flights and those who use military outfits to commit crimes.
“The law is good,” he says, “but the problem is that the citizens of Uganda do not trust this government.”
He, like Magezi, points to Karamoja.
“Some who have firearms and use them to steal people and others put army uniform and try to steal people,” he said. “I have no problem if such a person is stopped.”
Kiza, the human rights lawyer, says that the main objective of the bill is to refuse participation in Ugandans in what should be a fair democratic election.
“Political activists and opposition supporters will be arrested and sent back to prison without trial,” he said. “It only happened because the soldiers began to engage in politics.”