By Kabuye Ronald
The General Court Martial has sentenced prominent lawyer Eron Kiiza to nine months in prison, accusing him of “gross professional misconduct” during the trial of opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his associate Obeid Lutale. Kiiza, a key member of Besigye’s defense team, was found guilty of disrespecting the court after allegedly banging the angle bars and refusing to comply with the chairman’s instructions.
Kiiza was locked up at Kitalya Prison, marking a dramatic turn in the ongoing military trial. He had been thrown into the caged dock alongside his clients earlier in the day and was brought back to the court after the lunch adjournment in handcuffs. Fellow defense lawyer Samuel Muyizi reported that Kiiza had been tortured during the break, with claims that his arm was dislocated and that military personnel had attempted to strangle him.
The sentencing occurred without a formal trial, raising serious concerns over the military court’s fairness and adherence to legal principles. Legal experts and critics have voiced alarm over what they see as a clear violation of Kiiza’s rights, with some questioning the legitimacy of the military court itself, which has been accused of operating as a kangaroo court. The lack of a proper hearing for Kiiza is seen as a grave miscarriage of justice and a direct assault on the rule of law.
This controversial development comes amidst ongoing debates about the jurisdiction of military courts, with many arguing that these courts should not be trying civilians. Kiiza, who has previously clashed with Judge Advocate Brigadier-General Richard Tukacungurwa over procedural issues, is now facing significant legal and professional repercussions. His jailing further complicates the legal landscape, especially as the Supreme Court has yet to rule on an appeal challenging the Constitutional Court’s decision to strip military courts of the authority to try civilians.
This incident is expected to amplify criticism of the military’s handling of civilian trials and intensify calls for judicial reform in Uganda.
