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Citizen Posts
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Owing to the January 31st Supreme Court ruling in the Attorney General Vs Michael Kabaziguruka case which trimmed the powers of the very powerful General Court Martial from trying civilians, Museveni the Commander in Chief (CiC) and the Muhoozi Keinerugaba the Chief of Defense forces all disagreed with the ruling openly.
Their disagreements with the Supreme Court ruling were followed with numerous engagements with the NRM members of parliament who thronged Entebbe several times to suggest changes to the UPDF Act such that the Court Martial comes back in style.
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Now after several engagements with the NRM caucus, cabinet yesterday passed the changes to the UPDF Act which will give a second life to the General Court Martial which was forced to handover pending cases it was handling including the juicy one of Dr. Kiiza Besigye and Hajji Obed Kamulegeya who are facing cases relating to subversive activities.
The General Court martial had been on the spotlight for professionalism of the People who sit on it’s bench. The honorable court martial kept and continues keeping several political prisoners on remand without trial for the last four years. The few who have been released claimed they were forced by Minister Balaam to accept cases they didn’t commit and the others who refused continue languishing in prison even with an order to transfer their cases to civilian cases.
Now in the changes made to the amendments going to be tabled to parliament by the Minister of Security, People who have been convicted by the Court Martial will now be able to appeal their sentences in civilian courts. The other change which is more important is constituting the Court’s bench and it’s chairman who have legal background.
Speaking today at the Uganda Media Centre, Minister of ICT and National Guidance Dr. Chris Baryomunsi revealed that President Museveni and cabinet have now approved the amendments.
The General Court Martial without trial, case file or charge sheet sentenced Dr. Kiiza Besigye’s Lawyer Eron Kiiza to 9 months in prison on 07th March for contempt of court. After the January 31st Supreme Court ruling, he was able to challenge his sentence in the high court and was last Friday granted a Shs20m cash bail by Justice Micheal Erubu.
Owing to the same supreme court ruling, Dr. Kiiza Besigye was presented in the Nakawa Chief Magistrates court and had his cases mentioned and his main case of possessing firearms was dropped. He has also applied for bail in the high court.
The Museveni government gave priority to push for amendments in the UPDF Act to resurrect the General Court Martial such that it continues trying civilians despite an urgent need for electoral reforms ahead of the 2026 general elections.
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