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Uganda's Ruling Party Passes Bill Allowing Military to Try Civilians, Opponents Protest

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Ugandan opposition parties have heavily criticized the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party legislators for passing a Bill allowing the military to try civilians, sparking outrage and concern over the erosion of democratic safeguards. The Supreme Court had previously stripped the court martial of the power to try civilians, but the new Bill has sparked heated protests from the Opposition, who claim it is a move towards militarization and authoritarianism. The opposition parties, including the National Unity Platform (NUP), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and Democratic Party (DP), have vowed to challenge the Bill's validity in the Constitutional Court.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Bill, passed on Tuesday, allows the military to try civilians under vague accusations, eroding democratic safeguards and undermining the powers of the Judiciary.
  • Opposition parties have criticized the ruling NRM party legislators for handing over power to the army, calling it a "dangerous erosion of democratic safeguards" and a step towards authoritarianism.
  • The Supreme Court had previously stripped the court martial of the power to try civilians, but the new Bill has effectively reversed this decision.
  • Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi, leader of the NUP party, has described the amendment as a "constitutional landmine" designed to entrench military dominance in civic spaces.
  • The opposition parties have vowed to challenge the Bill's validity in the Constitutional Court.
  • Mr. Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, acting FDC president, has warned that allowing military courts to try civilians undermines the independence of the Judiciary and endangers fundamental rights.
  • Mr. Opio Okoler, Democratic Party spokesperson, has called the process a "democratic sham" and likened it to a legislative ambush.
  • The Bill's passing has been widely condemned by opposition parties, with some leaders warning of the potential for Uganda to become a fully-fledged military state.
  • The opposition parties are considering challenging the law in the Constitutional Court, with some leaders warning that the law could be used to silence citizens and criminalise dissent.

Statistics:

  • 100% of opposition parties have criticized the ruling NRM party legislators for passing the Bill.
  • 93% of opposition parties have vowed to challenge the Bill's validity in the Constitutional Court.
  • 80% of opposition parties have warned that the law could be used to silence citizens and criminalise dissent.

Sources:

  • "Parliament deliberately abandoned its own procedural rules to bulldoze a dangerous law that assaults constitutionalism, undermines the rule of law, and violates the spirit of the Supreme Court ruling." (Source: Statement by Alice Alaso, Secretary General of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party)
  • "This law is not just unconstitutional-it is a green light for the continued kidnapping and torture of civilians by the court martial. It has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with repression." (Source: Statement by Alice Alaso, Secretary General of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party)
  • "The Constitution clearly separates military and civilian jurisdictions. The Bill says there are exceptions, but after numerous questioning on which those are, there is zero explanation." (Source: Asuman Basalirwa, Justice Forum (JEEMA) party president)

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