The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Caucus has resolved to support a proposal allowing the trial of armed civilians in the Court Martial.
The announcement was made by Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua in a statement detailing discussions from the Caucus meeting held today at State House Entebbe.
The meeting focused on principles set to be incorporated into the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill, which was recently withdrawn to accommodate changes following the Supreme Court’s January 2025 ruling. The court had blocked the trial of civilians in the General Court Martial.
The UPDF Amendment Bill, 2024 aims to align military law with new government policies and evolving command, control, and administrative structures within the Defence Forces, particularly after the introduction of new services.
The bill also seeks to improve the welfare of Defence Forces personnel by addressing gaps in healthcare, decentralizing the Pension Authority from the Ministry of Public Service to the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, and enhancing disability compensation to ensure fair payments for officers and militants.
According to Obua, the Caucus resolved to support the proposed amendments to the UPDF Act as presented by the Attorney General.
“we resoled that misconduct by serving military personnel will be tried first by the Military Court Martial, with the right to appeal through civilian courts while civilians who acquire specified firearms illegally will be tried first by the Military Court Martial, with the right to appeal through civilian courts,” he said.
Despite the withdrawal of the bill, legal experts emphasize that the new legislation must not override the Supreme Court ruling but rather align with its concerns. Article 92 of the Constitution prohibits Parliament from enacting laws that nullify or override court decisions.
