Lawyer Sues Uganda at EACJ for Violating EAC Treaty in Eron Kiiza's Conviction

A city lawyer has taken action against Uganda's General Court Martial after the recent conviction of Eron Kiiza for contempt of court. This incident happened on January 7, 2025, while Kiiza was trying to defend Dr. Kizza Besigye. The case has raised important legal questions across East Africa.

The lawyer leading this challenge is Steven Kalali, who has gone to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) to question the actions of the General Court Martial. Kalali claims that Kiiza’s basic rights were violated during the court proceedings. He said that Kiiza was wrongly denied access to represent his client and faced confrontations from military personnel. He also pointed out that Kiiza was convicted without having a fair chance to defend himself.

Kalali stressed that these actions are not just mistakes; they undermine the very idea of justice. He stated, “Denying a lawyer access to the bar is a serious attack on the right to effective legal representation.” The trouble began when Kiiza was stopped from entering the courtroom to defend Dr. Besigye and another accused person, which led to a public argument and ultimately his arrest.

Kalali expressed deep concerns about how fair Kiiza’s treatment was. He noted that no formal charges were brought against Kiiza and that he did not get a chance to defend himself before being sentenced. Kalali argued that such actions threaten the rule of law and damage public trust in the fairness of the judiciary.

He also mentioned Uganda's commitments under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, saying that the court's actions violated Kiiza’s right to a fair hearing and his freedom as a lawyer. Kalali warned that these arbitrary decisions could set a worrying example, going against both international human rights laws and regional promises that Uganda has made.

The legal challenge asks the EACJ to rule that Uganda has broken specific articles of the EAC Treaty. Kalali is requesting a declaration that the military court's actions were unlawful and went against essential principles of justice and good governance.

As this case develops, it could have important effects on East Africa’s legal system. It raises key questions about how lawyers are treated in their work and whether member states are truly committed to upholding justice within the EAC framework.

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