President Yoweri Museveni has assented to the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Act, 2025, a controversial piece of legislation that allows for the trial of civilians in military courts despite a prior Supreme court ruling declaring the practice unconstitutional.
The announcement was made today, Monday, through parliament’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, which posted screenshots of the signed Act. The development follows the May passage of the Bill by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) lawmakers, who leveraged their parliamentary majority to push it through despite widespread public and legal opposition.
The amended law introduces sweeping changes to the military justice system, including the creation of a Directorate of Military Prosecutions. The director must be a serving officer of at least Colonel rank and qualified to be appointed a High court judge, an attempt, government argues, to professionalize the military prosecution process.
One of the most contentious provisions is Section 117A, which introduces Schedule B listing “military stores” including ceremonial shoes and uniforms as exclusive property of the Defence Forces. Section 83 introduces Schedule 7A, categorizing pistols and similar weapons as restricted items under military control.
The law also codifies an appellate structure for military court decisions, establishing a judicial ladder that ascends from the Unit Court Martial to the Division Court Martial, the General Court Martial, the Court of Appeal, and ultimately, the Supreme court.
According to Section 202C, members of the court martial are mandated to be independent and impartial, and not subject to military command in the exercise of their judicial functions.
Additionally, the chairperson of a Unit Court Martial must now hold a Bachelor of Laws degree and a postgraduate diploma in legal practice, a shift from previous standards, which were seen as legally lax.
The Act appears to directly respond to the landmark Supreme court judgment in Attorney General v. Hon. Michael Kabaziguruka, which held that trying civilians in military courts under the previous UPDF Act was unconstitutional.
Opposition MPs and civil society actors have denounced the new law as a legislative affront to that ruling, vowing to mount a fresh legal challenge, arguing that the government had sidestepped meaningful public consultation and ignored constitutional safeguards.
President Museveni, however, defended the legislation while addressing residents in Greater Luwero district.
“There was going to be a serious problem,” Museveni said. “Some people were saying that if a soldier commits crimes such as murder, theft, or rape, they should be taken to sub-county (civilian) courts instead of court martial. Those who were involved have to repent. There was going to be a serious collision between the army, parliament, and the courts of law, but they have saved us from embarrassment.”
He added that the law would help curb misuse of military equipment and bolster efforts to combat armed criminality.
The fact that our “Problem of Africa” Gen Tibuhaburwa keeps on putting on the UPDF uniform, if and whenever he wants to; indicates that the man is an inherent WRONGDOER by birth, but hellbent on criminalizing innocent Ugandans who are not only fed up of him, but categorically disagree with his impunity of wrongdoing.
In other words, under this Act, Gen Tibuhaburwa and son Gen Muhoozi should be the first persons to be tried in the General Court.
25 years ago and counting, the thug retired from UPDF active service, but because of his obsession with doctrine of intimidation and violence (NRA/M ideology; Mr. M7 cannot resist the temptation of putting on the Military Uniform, complete with slinging an AK47.
In other words, the man and his son have declared themselves above the constitution (Law) of the Republic. No wonder he told us off on 26th Jan 2017 that he is neither our servant nor employee. And he son referred to the MPs as clowns whom he cannot appear before them, and also referred to his Deputy Gen Peter Elwelu as a buffoon, whom he will the small legs.
In other words, nobody can touch these self-confessed criminals. And therefore the General Court Martial is Ugandan for the rest of Ugandans who do not agree with the criminality of Mr. M7, family members and cabal.
Am Canwat Derick from lamwo district in lokung East sub county, lelapwot parish, I want to join updf 2025,