Former Nakawa MP Michael Kabaziguruka has threatened to challenge the UPDF Amendment Bill 2025 in court if Parliament enacts it, calling it a “shameless” effort to roll back democratic progress.
Kabaziguruka, who previously led a successful Supreme Court petition outlawing blanket military trials of civilians, warned that the bill poses a grave threat to constitutionalism in Uganda.
“If this bill is passed into law, I will challenge it. The people fronting it are shameless and are simply attempting to legalize repression under the guise of military reform,” he said.
The proposed bill, which seeks to restructure military courts and grant greater autonomy to the Special Forces Command (SFC), has sparked an outcry from opposition figures and rights advocates.
Critics argue that the bill could be used to suppress dissent in the run-up to the 2026 general elections.
Erias Lukwago, interim president of the People’s Front for Freedom, urged Parliament to reject the bill, warning it violates Article 201 of the Constitution.
“Parliament must not allow such violations to pass unchallenged,” he said.
Moses Okwera of the Forum for Democratic Change questioned the timing, suggesting it was politically motivated.
“We must ask: why now? What’s the urgency unless it’s politically motivated?” he posed.
David Lewis Rubongoya, Secretary General of the National Unity Platform, said the proposed law threatens civilian oversight and paves the way for the militarisation of politics.
Despite the rising criticism, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has backed the bill.
NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong defended the move, saying it would enhance professionalism within the General Court Martial through the appointment of qualified judges.
“This is a great milestone. It will improve competence and ensure professionalism within the General Court Martial,” Todwong said.
However, civil society and opposition leaders remain unconvinced, warning that the court martial has previously served as a tool to intimidate government critics.
The bill’s proposed expansion of the SFC’s powers is particularly controversial, with many fearing it could entrench military influence in civilian affairs.
As the bill moves through Parliament, its fate is being closely watched by political observers who see it as a key test of legislative independence.
Kabaziguruka’s declaration signals a readiness for a renewed constitutional challenge, highlighting growing unease about the trajectory of military justice and civil liberties in Uganda.