Overview

• The Ugandan government has drafted a bill to allow military tribunals to try civilians under 'exceptional circumstances,' pending cabinet approval before introduction to parliament.
• This move directly challenges a January 2025 Supreme Court ruling that declared military trials of civilians unconstitutional and mandated their transfer to civilian courts.
• Opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his aide Obeid Lutale remain detained in civilian custody after their cases were transferred from military courts, but many others await similar action.
• Human rights groups and political figures accuse President Museveni’s government of using military courts to suppress dissent ahead of the 2026 general elections.
• The practice of trying civilians in military courts has been condemned by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, citing violations of international fair-trial standards.