Parliament reported on Monday that President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda had signed legislation allowing military tribunals to try civilians, a move that was criticized by opposition leaders as a violation of a Supreme Court decision. Rights campaigners have long alleged that the government has used military courts to persecute political opponents of Museveni, who has been in power for almost 40 years. His aides have denied this, claiming that such tribunals only prosecute civilians who use guns for political violence. The East African nation's Supreme Court declared the practice unconstitutional in a ruling earlier this year. It had been based on previous legislation that was challenged in lower courts.
Museveni's government subsequently introduced new legislation seeking to restore the prosecutions and parliament subsequently passed it last month.
"President @KagutaMuseveni has assented to The Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (Amendment) Act, 2025," parliament said in a post on the X platform.
After the bill's passage, the army's spokesperson praised it, saying it would "deter the formation of militant political groups that seek to subvert democratic processes".
The opposition claims that the new law breaks the decision of the Supreme Court. Ugandan courts could intervene again if they receive a citizens' petition against the legislation.
Authorities were compelled to transfer the military trial of a prominent opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, for alleged offenses including treason, to a civilian court as a result of the earlier verdict by the top court.
Uganda's most prominent opposition figure, pop star turned politician Bobi Wine, is getting ready to run against Museveni in the election next year. He was once charged in a military tribunal over illegal possession of guns but the charges were later dropped.
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