Parliament is set to receive the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill 2025 on Tuesday, a move seen as the government’s response to a landmark Supreme Court ruling that outlawed the trial of civilians in military courts.
The bill, listed on Tuesday’s order paper, will be introduced for its first reading by Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth during a sitting chaired by Speaker Anita Among.
On January 31, the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional for military courts to try civilians and ordered all such proceedings halted.
In response, government prosecutors have since withdrawn military court charges against several civilians—including opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye—and recharged them in civilian courts.
Simultaneously, the government has moved to amend the law to reinstate military court jurisdiction over civilians under certain conditions.
Sources familiar with the bill indicate it seeks to empower the court martial to prosecute civilians found in possession of classified security equipment, among other provisions.
If passed, the proposed amendments would effectively override the Supreme Court's ruling and reassert the military’s reach into civilian justice—raising major concerns about human rights, due process, and the separation of powers.
Following its first reading, the bill will be referred to both the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee and the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
These committees are expected to engage stakeholders, analyse the bill’s constitutionality, and guide further parliamentary debate.
Critics argue the bill could weaken civilian protections and erode judicial independence, while supporters say it is necessary for national security.
The UPDF Amendment Bill is likely to ignite intense debate as Parliament weighs its alignment with Uganda’s Constitution and international legal commitments.
The outcome could significantly reshape the balance between military authority and civilian rights in Uganda.