Besigye Absent As Military Court Suspends Civilian Trials,Case Pushed To This Date

The trial of opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye and his associate Obeid Lutale before the General Court Martial in Makindye was unexpectedly halted on Monday after the Supreme Court ruled against trying civilians in military courts. This ruling, issued on January 31, was a significant victory for human rights activists who have long criticized the practice.

Lawyers representing Besigye, including Ernest Kalibbala and Fredrick Mpanga, arrived at the court premises but were denied entry. According to Mpanga, military personnel at the gate informed them that no hearings would take place that day. A lieutenant stationed at the entrance later confirmed that no civilian trials would proceed as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision.

The verdict has cast uncertainty over Besigye’s case and those of other civilians previously charged in military courts. Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, one of Besigye’s legal representatives, insisted that the authorities must now release him, as the court martial no longer holds jurisdiction over civilian cases.

Despite the ruling, sources within the military indicated that they were still reviewing its implications. Brigadier General Freeman Mugabe, chairperson of the court martial, arrived under tight security for internal deliberations on the matter. Meanwhile, UPDF spokesperson Colonel Chris Magezi issued a statement asserting that the army would not release Besigye and that civilian trials in military courts would persist.

President Yoweri Museveni also dismissed the Supreme Court’s decision, stating, “We are not ruled by judges,” suggesting that the government may resist implementing the ruling. His stance has fueled speculation that the executive branch could challenge the judiciary’s authority on this issue.

Legal analysts have warned that any continued defiance of the Supreme Court ruling could trigger a deeper constitutional crisis in Uganda. While the court’s decision provides a legal precedent, its enforcement now hinges on political will—a factor that remains uncertain given the government’s response so far.

As tensions rise, the fate of civilians previously charged in military courts, including Besigye, remains in limbo. Further consultations between military and judicial officials are expected in the coming days, but whether the ruling will be fully implemented remains a contentious issue.

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