Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed into law a controversial bill allowing military courts to try civilians, a move critics say undermines judicial authority and violates a recent Supreme Court ruling.
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The legislation, titled The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Act, 2025, was passed by parliament last month and officially assented to by Museveni on Monday, according to a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) by the Ugandan Parliament.
The new law reinstates the military’s power to prosecute civilians, particularly in cases involving firearms and alleged political violence—despite a Supreme Court judgment earlier this year declaring the practice unconstitutional.
Human rights advocates and opposition figures have long accused Museveni’s administration of using military tribunals to intimidate and silence dissent. The president, in power since 1986, has faced mounting pressure over his government’s human rights record and handling of political opposition.
After the bill was passed, a spokesperson for the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) welcomed the move, saying it would “deter the formation of militant political groups that seek to subvert democratic processes.”
Opposition leaders, however, condemned the development, warning it represents a direct affront to the judiciary. Legal analysts say the law could face another constitutional challenge if citizens or rights groups petition the courts.
The Supreme Court’s earlier ruling led to the transfer of a high-profile military case involving opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye to a civilian court. Similarly, Robert Kyagulanyi—popularly known as Bobi Wine and considered Museveni’s main rival in the 2026 presidential election—was once charged by a military tribunal over alleged illegal gun possession. Those charges were later dropped.
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