Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has signed the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill 2025 into law, significantly widening the scope of military courts to include civilians under specific conditions.
The move has sparked backlash from opposition figures and human rights organizations, who argue that the law erodes constitutional safeguards and have vowed to contest it in court.
Under the new legislation, military tribunals are empowered to try civilians found in possession of military gear or accused of working with soldiers in grave offenses such as treason or murder.
Additionally, lawyers qualified to practice before the High Court will now be eligible to serve as judges on the General Court Martial.
Opposition leader Joel Ssenyonyi criticized the amendment as “rushed and oppressive,” accusing the government of using it to justify unlawful practices.
Rights advocates say the law could be used to stifle opposition voices and further undermine judicial independence—especially in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling that declared military trials for civilians unconstitutional.
The law was passed despite a boycott by opposition MPs, with the ruling National Resistance Movement leveraging its majority in Parliament to push it through, raising concerns about democratic backsliding in Uganda.
