The General Court Martial in Makindye has adjourned all scheduled hearings, including the treachery case against Dr Kizza Besigye, Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, and Captain Denis Oola, to analyze the recent Supreme court ruling that banned the trial of civilians in military courts.
When our reporter arrived at the Court Martial premises, a lieutenant, who did not have a name tag, stated that no court session was taking place on Monday, February 3. He cited Tarehe Sita activities as a key reason for the delay and was uncertain when the proceedings would resume. Other military sources, however, indicated that the court would likely reconvene next Monday.
Notably, Besigye and his co-accused were not brought to court, and no other detainees appeared before the panel. This suggests that prison authorities had been instructed not to transport any accused persons to the court. Typically, military trucks and prison vans ferry dozens of accused people to the court amid heavy security deployment.
However, Monday’s security presence was minimal, with only three military police officers stationed outside and a contingent of heavily armed soldiers within the court compound.
A source told our reporter that one of the Court Martial panel members was preparing for the burial of former Internal Security Organization (ISO) director, Brigadier Charles Oluka, while others were engaged in Tarehe Sita celebrations in Greater Masaka sub-region.
The court was also reportedly awaiting Court Martial chairperson, Brigadier Robert Freeman Mugabe, who arrived at 9:10am to brief the panel on how to proceed in light of the Supreme court ruling. A meeting was reportedly planned to discuss the ruling with guidance from the High Command.
MUSEVENI’S REACTION AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
Following the Supreme court’s decision, President Yoweri Museveni, who also serves as chairman of the High Command, has expressed his discontent.
He criticized the ruling, stating that Uganda is not governed by judges but by the people. He has since directed Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka to propose legal reforms aimed at countering the decision.
The Supreme court ruling, led by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, declared that all ongoing or pending trials of civilians in military courts must immediately cease and be transferred to civilian courts with competent jurisdiction.
However, the ruling does not apply retrospectively, meaning convictions or sentences imposed before the ruling remain valid unless under appeal. The court upheld the legitimacy of Summary Trial Authorities (STA) and Unit Disciplinary Committees (UDC) under the UPDF Act as military tribunals.
It also confirmed that section 195 (formerly 197) of the UPDF Act, which establishes the General Court Martial, is constitutional but only as a court with specialized jurisdiction over military personnel.
However, the Supreme court set aside the Constitutional court’s previous ruling that upheld section 117(1)(g) (formerly 119(1)(g)) of the UPDF Act, which had subjected anyone aiding or abetting a military offense to trial under military law.
Why have Ugandans become so inhuman without feelings for one another & just destroy eachother for Rwandese Museveni who will enjoy the show till he dies of old age in post at +90 years of age?
How many Ugandans of Museveni’s age still live, how & what future is there for their children, grand kids?
Just NO to the tribalistic system & UNITY with just ONE National Leader, are all Ugandans need! So why prefere torturing one another to ensure Rwandese Museveni’s lifetime rule, ownership of tax money, control of every institution…,knowing only his son will replace him finally?
Why are tribal leaders still in posts enjoying all this inhumanity in silence?
Why are Ugandans still maintaining the inhuman tribalistic system that is Rwandese Museveni’s STRENGTH, to ensure their own complete destruction legally, officially, constitutionally?
Akot, you’re absolutely right, we, Ugandans, have become inhuman and have no feelings for each other and/or one another! There’s neither rule of law nor democracy in Uganda because, the Supreme Court ruled that it’s illegal and/or unconstitutional to try civilians in militant courts. However, it’s stated in the above article that, “A [militant] meeting was reportedly planned to discuss the ruling with guidance from the High Command.” And guess what, our leading opposition figure, Kyagulanyi, is not fazed at all and moving on to the next bogus elections one after another. Kyagulanyi is unfazed! To him it’s business as usual and he is simply calling out, next!
Kyagulanyi is only interested in bogus elections in order to legitimize M7’s autocracy, anarchy and militant rule, which is clearly a lawlessness and undemocratic system. Kyagulanyi told us that there’s democracy in Uganda and promised up that he would show us that it works!
Akot, democracy is at work! So, Kyagulanyi is urging the youths to join him in politics so that they can enjoy the democracy and taxpayers’ money, and/or make money like him!
That’s how coldhearted Kyagulanyi is!
Akot and Remase that is a good debate you have there! Your description of African politics where dog eats dog is indeed true ever since this African hinterland of a continent became Uganda October 1962. Surely the citizens of Uganda are real survivors from such political turmoil. And they are very decent and pay their taxes. This current long serving African leader indeed did say he passed through Tanulu to become what he is now. Will he leave state power? Of course not. It is all wrong to blame the decent people of this new nation for the mischief of one single foreign leader. The Ganda tribal leader, The Ssabasajja, does not vote. It is his subjects whom we are trying to convince not to go and vote this time because the national elections are not free and fair. Their votes they have been giving out now 40 years and counting are not accounted for, they are void!