By Aggrey Baba
The recent Supreme Court ruling by Justice Owiny-Dollo, which stripped military courts of their powers to try civilians, has deeply unsettled the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, leaving him with “sleepless nights.”
In response, M7 urgently convened a National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Caucus meeting on Friday, February 7, 2025, at State House Entebbe, to address the legal and political fallout.
During the meeting, the caucus decided to withdraw the controversial Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill currently before Parliament.
Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua confirmed that the decision was made to allow Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka to act swiftly in drafting a revised version of the bill.
This revision will ensure that military courts adhere to the Supreme Court’s ruling and remain within the bounds of civilian jurisdiction, while also addressing issues of military justice and professional conduct.
The Supreme Court’s January 31 decision declared that military courts have no jurisdiction over civilians, invalidating all civilian cases previously tried by these courts.
This ruling has led to calls for the release of detainees,, including opposition leader, Dr. Kizza Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, and many National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters, some of whom have been in detention for years, which adds to the already tense political atmosphere.
As the government moves forward, the NRM is determined to quickly rectify the legal framework to ensure national security concerns are balanced with the need to comply with the court’s judgment. The swift action of the Attorney General will be pivotal in navigating this complex situation. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
