KAMPALA, Uganda — The Ugandan government has introduced a bill seeking to restore the military’s power to prosecute civilians, just months after the country’s Supreme Court declared the practice unconstitutional.
On Tuesday, Defence Minister Jacob Marksons Oboth presented the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Bill, 2025 before parliament, where it was referred to a House committee for review.
The proposed law would allow civilians to be tried in military courts under exceptional circumstances — including cases involving the unlawful possession of arms, ammunition, or equipment typically controlled by the armed forces, according to a draft seen by Reuters.
The move has sparked sharp criticism from opposition figures and human rights activists, who say it is a thinly veiled attempt to clamp down on dissent.
“This law will be used to persecute regime opponents and deal with the growing resistance against the regime,” said David Lewis Rubongoya, secretary-general of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s main opposition party.
In January, the Supreme Court ruled that military trials for civilians violated Uganda’s Constitution, leading to the transfer of several high-profile cases — including that of long-time opposition figure Kizza Besigye — to civilian courts.
Besigye, a former presidential candidate and fierce critic of President Yoweri Museveni, was arrested in November and charged in a military court with offences including the illegal possession of firearms, after reportedly being abducted from Nairobi and transported to Uganda.
Kenya’s government denied involvement, saying the incident was not sanctioned.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, Besigye’s case was moved to a civilian court, where he now faces multiple charges, including treason — allegations his allies insist are politically motivated.
Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, has long been accused of using the military and security apparatus to stifle political opposition.
Military courts have historically been used to prosecute opposition leaders and activists on charges such as terrorism, weapons possession, and inciting violence.
The new bill also expands the scope of military jurisdiction to include civilians accused of aiding or abetting crimes committed by soldiers, including treason, murder, and aggravated robbery.
The government’s decision to revive the military’s prosecutorial powers comes as political tensions begin to rise ahead of the January 2026 presidential election, in which Museveni is widely expected to seek re-election.
On Friday, NUP leader Bobi Wine — Museveni’s main challenger in the 2021 polls — announced his intention to run again.
Critics say the proposed law represents a clear backslide on constitutional freedoms, and warn it could further undermine the independence of Uganda’s civilian judicial system.
