President Yoweri Museveni has signed into law trial of civilians in the Military Court. photo: Yoweri Museveni X.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed a law allowing trial of Ugandan citizens by the military court, as confirmed by the Ugandan Parliament on June, Monday, 16.
However, the opposition has faulted Museveni’s move, as it violates the ruling made earlier by the Supreme Court, that ruled against the new law assented to by Museveni.
According to human rights activist, Museveni’s administration has used military courts to persecute his political opponents, since he came into power 40 years. His allies have strongly denied the allegations, stating that only civilians who use guns for political violence are prosecuted in such tribunals.
In a ruling made by East African country’s Supreme Court early this year, the court banned the use of Military Courts to prosecute civilians, and termed it unconstitutional, following a petition filed in lower courts, challenging the new law.
Museveni’s government introduced a new legislation, seeking to restore the prosecutions and parliament anonymously passed it last month.
After the bill’s was assented to, the army’s spokesperson praised it, saying it would deter the formation of militant political groups that seek to subvert democratic processes in Uganda.
The new law comes as key opposition figure Kizza Besigye, is facing trial in the Military Court for alleged offences including treason, with earlier petitions filed to see him tried before civilian courts failed. Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua has been on interest with case, with several attempts to block her to accessing the trial.
