The Supreme Court of Uganda recently ruled that trying citizens in military courts is unconstitutional. Human rights groups welcomed the decision as a major step to protect the right to test, but the government criticized the move.
Orem Naiko, Senior Registrate of Human Rights Watch, said the decision is encouraging, as it reflects the value of human rights and the right to proper testing.
Citizens should not be tried in military courts, this idea is something that is at many levels in which Nyeko has said.
Uganda President Yovery Museweni criticized the verdict, saying that the country is not ruled by judges but by the people.
Museveni defended the military courts, saying that his tests strengthen the civil judicial system to protect people’s lives against armed criminals.
According to rights groups, the military courts of Uganda have tried hundreds of citizens, including opposition politicians and government critics.
In 2016, former Parliament member Michael Kaziguruka was accused of security -related offices and an attempt in a military court. Successfully filed a petition in the Supreme Court, he argued that it was against the law to face a general court martial (GCM) for him and other citizens.
Kaziguruka argued that GCM was unable to remove justice, so any person who expected justice. Instead, he said, GCM has been used by the government as a suppression tool to fight its political opponents.
The court’s verdict has hoped opposition leader Kiza Basic, who was abducted in Kenya in November and appeared before a military court in Kampala after days. He faces death penalty for treason, Despite the High Court’s decision, their court-martial case is expected to continue.
Army spokesman Chris Magazi said that a military court could try any accused against Uganda to kill an armed rebellion or terrorism accused or conspiring to kill the accused.
Kaziguruka said that he is not interested in criticisms of the President, as the Supreme Court has ruled on the court-martial issue. The President can do bound, Kabbaziguru said, but he cannot change the ruling.
Kabbaziguruka said that citizens defendants are poorly treated in military courts and tortured by soldiers, which lead to indelible marks.
Museweni argued that military courts are beneficial for the security of the country and ordered the Attorney General to propose constitutional amendments to the groups before interfering with their work.
