Uganda's Supreme Court bans military trials for civilians; government rejects ruling

NAIROBI — 

Uganda’s Supreme Court precocious ruled that trying civilians successful subject courts is unconstitutional. Human rights groups welcomed the determination arsenic a large measurement successful protecting the close to a just trial, but the authorities criticized the move.

Human Rights Watch’s elder researcher Oryem Nyeko said the determination is encouraging, arsenic it reflects the values of quality rights and the close to a just trial.

The thought that civilians should not beryllium tried successful subject courts is thing that is agreed upon astatine galore levels, including successful planetary law, Nyeko added.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni criticized the ruling, saying the state is not governed by judges but by the people.

Museveni defended the subject courts, saying its trials reenforce the civilian judicial strategy to support the lives of radical against equipped criminals.

According to rights groups, Ugandan subject courts person tried hundreds of civilians, including absorption politicians and authorities critics.

In 2016, erstwhile Parliament subordinate Michael Kabaziguruka was charged with security-related offenses and tried successful a subject court. In successfully petitioning the Supreme Court, helium argued that it was against the instrumentality for him and different civilians to look a General Court Martial (GCM).

Kabaziguruka argued that the GCM was incapable of dispensing justice, truthful nary 1 who went determination expected justness to beryllium served. Instead, helium said, the GCM has been utilized arsenic a instrumentality of repression by the authorities to combat its governmental opponents.

The court’s ruling has fixed anticipation to absorption person Kizza Besigye, who was abducted successful Kenya successful November and days aboriginal appeared earlier a subject tribunal successful Kampala. He faces the decease punishment for treason. Despite the precocious tribunal ruling, his court-martial lawsuit is expected to continue.

Army spokesperson Chris Magezi said a subject tribunal tin effort immoderate idiosyncratic accused of conspiring to termination the president oregon accused of committing equipped rebellion oregon coercion against Uganda.

Kabaziguruka said helium isn’t funny successful the president’s criticisms, arsenic the Supreme Court ruling implicit the courts-martial contented is final. The president tin rant, Kabaziguruka said, but helium cannot alteration the ruling.

Kabaziguruka besides said that civilian defendants successful subject courts are treated poorly and tortured by soldiers, leaving an indelible mark.

Museveni argued that subject courts are beneficial to the country's information and ordered the lawyer wide to suggest law amendments to forestall judges from interfering with their work.