FDC applauds Supreme Court judgement on court martial

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The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has called on the government to respect the recent Supreme Court judgment that bans civilians from appearing before the General Court Martial. 

The party expressed its approval of the judgement, made last Friday, which determined that the General Court Martial does not have the jurisdiction to try civilians.

This statement was delivered by FDC vice president Robert Centenary during a weekly press conference at the party's headquarters in Najjanankumbi on February 3, 2025, following remarks from party president Patrick Amuriat.

“We commend the leadership of the Chief Justice, Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, and the judges of the Supreme Court for upholding justice, the rule of law, and strengthening the independence of the Judiciary,” Amuriat said.

Amuriat also praised Michael Kabaziguruka and his legal team for their courageous pursuit of justice for Ugandan civilians who had been tried in a court that, as affirmed by the judgement, does not have the competence or authority to do so.

However, Amuriat expressed concern over the possibility that President Yoweri Museveni may not implement the Supreme Court’s judgment, despite its significance. He stressed that civilian authority supersedes military authority, as enshrined in the Constitution, and warned that any failure to respect this fundamental principle could set a dangerous precedent.

The Court Martial in Makindye was abruptly halted after the Supreme Court ordered an immediate cessation of all cases involving civilians.

The decision followed the Supreme Court’s judgement, which declared that the Court Martial lacked the constitutional authority to try civilians and mandated the transfer of such cases to civilian courts.

Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo and the Supreme Court justices ordered that all pending criminal cases involving civilians and soldiers at military courts must be halted, with the files transferred to civilian courts.