Kizza Besigye Trial Halted as Military Court Suspends Civilian Cases

91
Dr. Kiiza Besigye the-former FDC president

The trial of opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his associate Obeid Lutale before the General Court Martial in Makindye was abruptly halted on Monday, following a Supreme Court ruling that bars the court from trying civilians.

The Supreme Court’s decision, handed down last week, declared that the court martial does not have the constitutional authority to prosecute civilians, ordering an immediate halt to such cases.

NBS TV reporter Shamim Nabakooza, who was on the ground in Makindye, reported that lawyers Ernest Kalibbala and Fredrick Mpanga arrived at the court only to be denied entry by military officers at the gate. According to Mpanga, the soldiers informed him that there would be no proceedings that day.

Despite the ruling, military sources indicated that the hearings might be rescheduled for the following week, as officials were still assessing the implications of the judgment.

Kizza Besigye

A lieutenant stationed at the gate confirmed that no civilians would be tried on Monday, leaving Kizza Besigye’s fate uncertain. Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Kizza Besigye’s lawyer, told NBS TV that the military had no choice but to release Besigye, following the court’s decision.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Freeman Mugabe, the chairman of the court martial, arrived under heavy guard for an internal meeting, where officials discussed the ruling’s impact.

The January 31 ruling marked a significant victory for human rights advocates who have long criticized military courts for trying civilians. Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, in his judgment, stressed that only serving soldiers should be tried by military tribunals, calling the practice of prosecuting civilians in military courts “inconsistent with democratic principles.”

However, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) rejected the verdict. Colonel Chris Magezi, the UPDF’s public relations manager, stated on social media that the army would not release Besigye and would continue civilian trials.

President Museveni dismissed the ruling with laughter, asserting that Uganda is not ruled solely by judges, suggesting that his government may not fully comply with the Supreme Court’s decision. This has raised concerns that the government could resist transferring civilian cases to civilian courts, as ordered by the Supreme Court.

FB IMG 17320788429074305
Kizza Besigye and Wife

The suspension of the hearings leaves several high-profile cases in limbo, with court martial officials planning further consultations with Uganda’s High Command before making any final decisions. Legal experts have warned that ongoing defiance of the Supreme Court ruling could escalate Uganda’s constitutional crisis.

Leave a reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here