Uganda: Türk Urges President To Reject Bill Allowing Trials Of Civilians In Military Courts

GENEVA (23 May 2025) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday expressed concern at the passing in Uganda’s Parliament of proposed legislation to allow for civilians to be tried in military courts.

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces Amendment Bill 2025, which was passed on 20 May and now awaits presidential signature to become law, among others broadens the jurisdiction of military courts, authorising them to try a wide range of offences against civilians.

“I am concerned that rather than encouraging efforts to implement the Supreme Court’s crystal-clear decision of January this year, Uganda’s legislators have voted to reinstate and broaden military court’s jurisdiction to try civilians, which would contravene international human rights law obligations,” said Türk.

“I respectfully urge President Museveni to reject the retrogressive bill and take the necessary steps to comply fully and promptly with the Supreme Court’s decision.”

The trial of civilians by military courts is in principle incompatible with international human rights law as it raises serious problems in relation to equitable, impartial and independent administration of justice. Such trials are only permissible in exceptional cases and subject to strict requirements.

In its landmark decision, the Supreme Court affirmed the unconstitutionality of trying civilians in military courts, and ordered the immediate transfer of all criminal charges, ongoing trials or pending cases involving civilians in military courts to ordinary civilian courts of competent authority.

Parliament’s endorsement of the regressive proposals in the amended bill coincides with a troubling rise in arrests and abductions, harassment and intimidation, as well as torture and other ill-treatment of members of the political opposition, in the lead up to presidential and parliamentary elections early next year.

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