By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, has attacked the country’s Supreme Court for ruling that civilians cannot be tried in a military court, calling it a “wrong decision”.
“I was sorry to hear of the wrong decision by the Supreme Court,” President Yoweri Museveni said on X on Saturday.
A former presidential candidate, Kizza Besigye, has been on trial for “treason” and illegal possession of firearms since last year after he was forcibly brought home from Kenya.
The country’s chief justice ruled on Friday that it was unconstitutional for civilians to be tried in military courts, raising hopes that Besigye’s treason trial might be halted.
Uganda “cannot and will not abandon this useful instrument for stability,” Museveni said, denouncing the Supreme Court ruling.
“Armed illegal operators should be tried, initially, in military courts to protect society,” he added.
Besigye was once President Museveni’s trusted personal doctor but has become a government target since joining the opposition 25 years ago and unsuccessfully running for president four times.
He was abducted in November and has been facing the death penalty on treason charges in a court martial that his wife, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, has called a “sham”.
Meanwhile, the army said it will continue to court-martial the opposition figure despite the court ruling.
Army spokesman Chris Magezi said: “Under no circumstances will Colonel Kizza Besigye be released until he faces the full extent of martial law.”
“The General Court Martial will continue to try anyone who conspires to murder the president, commits armed rebellion against Uganda, and engages in terrorism against the people of Uganda,” Magezi said.
Opposition figures and human rights defenders condemned the army’s decision.
Politician Medard Sseggona said it was “an indication of a breakdown of the rule of law in Uganda,” AFP quoted him as saying.
“We have seen, of recent, the military taking over civilian authority and overthrowing the constitutional order,” he added.
“The military defiance against the ruling is shocking but telling,” said former opposition MP Michael Kabaziguruka.
“We are in a military state,” he told AFP, adding that he would be closely watching how the army “will subvert the decision of the court.”
