In a move drawing sharp criticism from human rights advocates, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has signed a new law that permits civilians to be tried in military courts. The decision, announced on June 15, 2025, has reignited national and international debate over civil liberties, the separation of powers, and the militarization of justice in the East African nation. The law grants Uganda’s military tribunal, the General Court Martial, jurisdiction over civilians accused of offenses involving firearms, military equipment, espionage, or other "security-related" matters. Supporters of the legislation argue it is a necessary tool to combat terrorism, organized crime, and insurgency threats that allegedly undermine national stability. They claim that civilian courts are often under-resourced, vulnerable to corruption, and too slow to respond to high-risk security threats.

However, critics see the new law as a dangerous step backward for Uganda’s democratic institutions. Human rights organizations, opposition parties, and civil society groups have condemned the move, calling it a violation of domestic constitutional rights and international legal standards. Many fear that the law could be used to suppress dissent, target political opponents, and bypass the country’s already weakened judicial independence. Uganda has a long and controversial history of trying civilians in military courts, particularly during election cycles or periods of political unrest. While previous legal challenges sought to limit this practice, the new legislation effectively codifies it, granting the military expanded legal powers over civilians.

Lawyers and activists warn that military courts lack transparency, independence, and appeal processes comparable to civilian judicial systems. Cases tried in these courts often occur behind closed doors, with judges who are military officers and are answerable to the chain of command rather than judicial ethics. Defendants in military courts typically have limited access to legal counsel and face accelerated proceedings that can result in severe penalties, including long prison sentences or, in some cases, the death penalty. Opposition leader Bobi Wine, a vocal critic of President Museveni’s administration, decried the law as “a weapon against democracy,” warning that it paves the way for further suppression of civil liberties.

Protests have already erupted in parts of Kampala, with demonstrators demanding the law’s repeal and vowing to challenge it in the Constitutional Court. As Uganda heads into a politically sensitive period with elections on the horizon, the passage of this law raises serious concerns about the erosion of civilian oversight, the shrinking space for political opposition, and the future of democratic governance in the country.