In a defiant statement littered with all-caps, Colonel Chris Magezi, the public relations manager in the office of the Chief of Defence Forces, declared that the General Court Martial would continue trying Dr Kizza Besigye despite the highest court in the land ruling against military trials for civilians.
“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.
“Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will Colonel Kizza Besigye be RELEASED until he faces the FULL EXTENT of MARTIAL LAW.”
The statement comes in direct defiance of a Supreme Court ruling that military courts have no jurisdiction over civilians.
In a landmark decision, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo and six other justices declared that the General Court Martial lacks the legal qualifications and independence to conduct fair trials.
The ruling rendered sections of the UPDF Act, which allowed military trials for civilians, unconstitutional and void.
Owiny-Dollo likened military court judges to untrained surgeons performing operations, warning that short-term presidential appointments for military judges undermined their independence.
“Without job security, their ability to dispense justice without fear or favour is compromised,” he noted.
The Supreme Court further ruled that military courts violate constitutional principles by denying defendants the right to appeal, a fundamental aspect of fair trial guarantees.
Consequently, the court ordered an immediate halt to all military trials involving civilians.
UPDF’s defiance of this ruling has sparked alarm among legal experts and civil society, raising concerns about the erosion of judicial independence and the supremacy of civilian institutions.
Critics argue that disregarding Supreme Court authority sets a dangerous precedent, reinforcing fears of unchecked military influence in governance.
Col Magezi's defiant statement comes after Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Norbert Mao welcomed the Supreme Court decision and said the Judiciary is a national institution.
"Its mark of Independence is that sometimes it will agree with you and sometimes it will disagree with you," Mao said.
"Today [Friday] the Supreme Court settled a major constitutional dispute. Let’s unite in respecting the decision."
Youth and Children's Affairs minister Balaam Barugahara, said the government had again demonstrated its commitment to democracy, as evidenced by the recent Supreme Court decision.
"This separation of powers is a cornerstone of democracy, allowing each branch to operate freely and ensuring that power is distributed evenly," said Balaam, a key confidante of CDF Muhoozi Kainerugaba for whom Col Magezi speaks.
The Ministry of Defence has yet to respond officially, and its silence has only fueled speculation about how far the UPDF is willing to go in challenging civilian rule.
With Besigye’s fate now entangled in a standoff between the military and the judiciary, the unfolding battle could have far-reaching consequences for Uganda’s democracy.