President Museveni has praised Parliament for passing the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill 2025.
The army Act empowers the General Court Martial to try civilians who commit murder using firearms.
Addressing leaders from the greater Luweero area at Timnah Nursery and Primary School in Mabaale Village, Luweero Town, the President thanked Members of Parliament who voted in favour of the bill, saying their decision had “saved the country from doom.”
“Those who supported this amendment have acted patriotically. They have prevented a situation where armed civilians and rogue soldiers would continue to murder people without being held to account,” Museveni said.
He criticised opponents of the bill for trying to weaken national security frameworks and insisted that they owed the country an apology.
“Those who opposed this law should apologise to the country. You were leading us into chaos by attempting to shield criminals who misuse firearms,” Museveni told the gathering.
The President argued that individuals who use guns to commit murder effectively place themselves under military jurisdiction and must be dealt with accordingly.
“Leave army matters to those who understand them. These are not political games. This is about the survival and safety of Ugandans,” he said.
The UPDF Amendment Bill 2025, which has stirred national debate over the military’s reach into civilian justice, modifies existing law to allow military courts to try civilians found in possession of or committing crimes with firearms, particularly in cases of murder.
Critics, including human rights defenders and some opposition legislators, have argued that the law could erode civilian judicial authority and lead to military overreach.
But Museveni dismissed such concerns, saying military justice was necessary in cases involving the misuse of weapons.
“A gun is not a walking stick. When someone uses it to kill, they have stepped into the realm of military law. They must answer to the General Court Martial,” he said.
The President’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions over the role of military courts in Uganda’s justice system, especially their jurisdiction over civilians.
Parliament passed the bill earlier this month despite resistance from some quarters, including civil society groups.
In Luweero, a region with historical ties to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Museveni framed the legislation as a continuation of the liberation struggle that began decades ago.
“Our struggle was about securing Uganda. That work continues. We cannot allow armed killers to hide behind civilian courts that lack the capacity to deter them,” he said.
The amended UPDF Act now awaits assent to become law.
If assented to, it will formalise military jurisdiction over civilians who use firearms in the commission of capital offences, marking a significant shift in Uganda’s legal landscape.