Ndiho Media,LLC.

By Ndiho Media

Uganda’s Parliament has passed the 2025 Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, a highly controversial law that would allow civilians to be tried in military courts—defying a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that deemed such trials unconstitutional.

If signed by President Yoweri Museveni, the bill would authorize military courts to prosecute civilians accused of crimes allegedly linked to military personnel or operations. Critics argue this is a dangerous overreach and a deliberate attempt to weaponize military justice against political opposition.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has made it clear that military courts should never have jurisdiction over civilians. Uganda’s own Supreme Court ordered an immediate halt to military trials of civilians in January 2025.

Ndiho Media spoke to Henry Muguzi, a respected political analyst and Coordinator of the African Elections Observer Network in Kampala. He warned:

“This bill is a direct assault on the independence of the judiciary and a clear attempt to intimidate political opposition as we approach the 2026 elections.”

Human Rights Watch has also documented years of abuse in military courts, often targeting opposition figures like Dr. Kizza Besigye. His lawyer, Eron Kiiza, was even jailed for contempt after clashing with the army tribunal earlier this year.

The bill now sits on President Museveni’s desk. Many are calling on him to reject it—for the sake of constitutional order and democratic legitimacy.