President Uganda Yord Museveni signs a new law that allows military tests for civilians

Uganda’s President Johovers Museveni signed a legal law, which will once again judge civilians in a military court under certain circumstances.

In January, in January, the Supreme Court, which allows such lawsuits, was recognized as unconstitutional.

Before this resolution, Citizens could be taken to the military court if they were found with military equipment as a weapon or army form. Activists complained that the law was used to persecute state critics.

Last month, the parliamentarian adopted amendments against the backdrop of the large presence of police and boycott of opposition lawmakers, who claimed that it violated the ruling of the Supreme Court in the country.

In January, the judges said that the military courts were neither impartial nor competently for the implementation of court functions, the International Human Rights Society reports at the time.

The amendment appears to try to resolve some issues.

It states that those who preside over the tribunal must have appropriate legal qualifications and training. It also states that, by performing their legal functions, they must be independent and impartial.

But civilians can still be transferred when found using military equipment.

“The law will decisively decisively with armed violent criminals, restrain the formation of militant political groups seeking democratic processes, and ensure national security associated with a firm fundamental base. If it is not broken, do not correct it!” -Secretary of the Army, “Army Press Socialist. Col Chris Magezi wrote on X after the bill was adopted by MPs.

But opposition leader Bobby said the law would be used against him and others.

“We are all in opposition to the law,” he told AFP.

The legal society of UgandaThe professional body representing the lawyers of the country said he “challenged constitutionality” amendments.

For many years, the activists have claimed that the military courts had used the government to silence dissidents, and people claim that the evidence had been planted.

“If you are a political opponent, they will find a way to get to you under a military court, and then you know that your fate is sealed … After there, justice will never visit your doors,” said the human rights lawyer in February.

He added that people could spend years detention in custody when the courts are waiting for decisions from senior military figures who can never come, and those who are tried and found guilty, faced more strict fines than civil courts.

The latest high -profile case happened after the arrest in November, a long -standing opposition figure Kizza Besigye. He was taken to neighboring Kenya, took across the border, and then accused of military court possession of pistols and attempts to buy weapons abroad he refused.

These allegations were dropped and replaced by others when his case was handed over to a civil court after the Supreme Court.

Museveni, which has been in power since 1986, described the sentence as “wrong decision”Adding that “the country is not governed by the judges. It is ruled by the people.”

He had Previously defended the use of military vessels Saying that they dealt with “the rampant activities of criminals and terrorists who used weapons to analyze people indiscriminately.”

He said the civil courts were too busy to “quickly handle these criminals.”