President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has strongly opposed the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that declared the trial of civilians in military courts unconstitutional.
In a statement issued upon his return from wealth creation tours in Busoga and Lango, Museveni dismissed the decision as misguided, arguing that Uganda is governed by the people through parliamentary legislation and constitutional amendments, not by judges.
The Supreme Court ruling, hailed by human rights activists as a victory for the rule of law, ordered all ongoing civilian cases in military courts to be transferred to civil courts.
However, Museveni has directed the Attorney General to propose constitutional amendments allowing civilians, particularly those found in possession of illegal firearms, to be tried in military courts.
He defended the role of the military judiciary, citing its success in stabilizing volatile regions such as Karamoja.
The ruling has sparked political tensions, with the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) celebrating it as a victory for political activists who have faced military prosecution.
NUP Secretary-General Lewis Rubongoya emphasized that over 100 party supporters have been unfairly prosecuted in military courts since 2020.
Meanwhile, legal experts warn that Museveni’s proposed constitutional amendments could set the stage for a legal and political battle, as civil society groups and opposition leaders push back against any changes that could undermine judicial independence.