16. November 2024. Kizza Besighye opposition politician and his assistant husband was dried in Nairobi, Kenya. Four days later, they increased in the capital Uganda in the Military Court about security charges. Donated in Uganda, in clear violation of international laws that prohibit an extraordinary review and overdue process, two civilians faced military justice.
Openly with this militarization of justice, Besigye and Lutala attracted a 40-strong defense team led by Martha Karu, a Kenyan former Minister of Justice.
If state antiquities were intended to fell silent, they did just the opposite. Far from deterring others to appear, these trials have launched a national discussion of human rights and the role of military.
The head of the Defense Forces Uganda, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, a Museven’s son, was regularly seen as the potential successor of his older father (pla), despite the legislation prohibiting military officers in participation in Partisan politics.
Since 2016, the Supreme Court in Uganda postponed the judgment of the case, which brought Michael Kabaziguruk, a former member of the parliament, causing the trial of civilians before military courts. Kabaziguruk, who was charged with betrayal, claimed that the dishes in the Military Court had violated fair trials. As a civilian he argued that he was not susceptible to the military law. The case of Besighye and Lutala gave the renovated swing of it.
On January 31, the Supreme Court ruled that they were trying to civilians on military courts unsteaded, ordering that everyone is liquid or ongoing criminal trials involving civilians must stop immediately and be transferred to ordinary courts.
Despite this judgment, the President Museveni and his son promised to continue to use military courts in civilian trials. Besighye struck hunger 10 days in protest against delays in the transfer of his case to an ordinary court. The case has now become a litmus test for an Ugundian military system that is before 2026 elections.
Besigye and wanders are not the only opposition politicians facing military justice. Dozens of supporters of the National Unity of the platform (NUP), who led Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi wine, condemned military courts for different crimes. They include carrying the stamp signs of the NUP and other parties of the clothes that the authorities claimed that they looked like military uniforms, despite its different differences. Numerous less well-known political activists are also facing charges on military courts.
Over 1,000 civilians were processed in Uganda military courts since 2002. years for crimes such as murder and armed robbery.
For the context, 2005. year, the state has changed the ACT UPDF to create a legal framework that has enabled the soldier to try civilians in military courts. It was not by accident that these amendments occurred as the military tried civilians arrested between 2001. and 2004, including Kizz Besighye.
Military trials of FLOUT International civilians and regional standards. They open human rights offenses, including forced confessions, opaque processes, unfair trials and executions.
By examining civilians in military courts, Article 7 of the African Charter on the Rights of the Human and Peoples and Principles and Guidelines from 2001. on legal aid in Africa. African commission for the rights of people and peoples, the Premier Body for Human Rights in the region, has long condemned his practice in Uganda.
The military justice opposition has not arrived only from the usual neighborhoods. Religious leaders Expressed concern Osigy’s continuous custody after the Supreme Court, as well as Anita among the President of the Ugandene Parliament and a member of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), which noted: “Injustice is anyone’s injustice to everyone. Today, Dr. Besighye is going on tomorrow will happen to anyone of us.”
After a court order and widespread outflow, Besigye and Lutals were transferred to civil court 21. February. Besighye called a hunger strike. They remain in custody, as well as their lawyer. However, their transfer without release in the process began with illegal, remains deficient. Despite the transmission of their case, the results of more civilians are still abreast of military courts, with a small hope that it will be transferred to civil courts.
For this reason, 11 groups, including Kenya Amnesty, Kenya, Kenya, Kenya for their release of Kenya Kenya and Kenyan Medical Practice, Pharmacist and Dentists (Kmpdu).
As Uganda approaches the elections, it is evident that the military courts are now a tool in the president of the President Musevania for use in silence of disagreement. It is time for Uganda to possess the verdict of the Supreme Court – for now, for the trial and military justice.
Attitudes expressed in this article are wet authority and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeere editor.
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2025-04-18 12:17:00
