By Jumah Kakomo
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has made a passionate appeal to Uganda’s Parliament to reject any proposed amendments to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Act that could potentially legitimize the use of military courts to try civilians.
This call follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling on January 31, 2025, which declared that civilians cannot be tried in military courts, a significant victory for human rights and the rule of law in Uganda. The case, which began with former Nakawa Division MP Michael Kabaziguruka challenging the constitutionality of his trial in a military court, culminated in the Supreme Court’s historic decision. The court’s judgment builds on a 2021 Constitutional Court ruling, which had already declared the practice unconstitutional.
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, alongside six other justices, ruled that civilians must be tried in civilian courts, underscoring the importance of protecting constitutional rights and limiting the military’s jurisdiction. This decision is seen as a blow to government efforts to justify the use of military courts in the name of national security.
FDC Vice Chairman Hon. Franco Robert Centinary voiced strong concerns over the government’s potential push to amend the UPDF Act to give military courts more power, particularly to try civilians. He argued that military courts lack the independence and impartiality necessary for fair trials, and that such a move would undermine Uganda’s democratic principles and the justice system.
Centinary also condemned President Yoweri Museveni’s refusal to implement the Supreme Court’s judgment, noting that the President had vowed to defy the ruling despite its constitutional clarity. “President Museveni must understand that civilian authority supersedes military authority, as enshrined in our Constitution,” Centinary stated. “His continued disregard for the Supreme Court ruling sets a dangerous precedent and threatens the very foundations of our democracy.”
The FDC has warned that if President Museveni persists in undermining the ruling, Ugandans may be left with no choice but to take action in defense of their constitutional rights. The party’s stance reflects a deep concern for the erosion of democratic principles and the growing trend of executive overreach in Uganda’s governance.
