Speaking during a keynote address at a Uganda Law Society gathering, Kyagulanyi decried what he called the “unholy alliance” between the judiciary and political elite, warning that the justice system had become a tool for silencing dissent.
“Imagine this the private chambers of the Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka, the architect of the 2025 UPDF Amendment Act dragging civilians to military courts, shares a wall with the Uganda Law Society,” he said.
“His partner is an in-law to the first family. That is law mixed with politics.”
Kyagulanyi pointed to the exile of Uganda Law Society President Isaac Ssemakadde as evidence of the regime’s intolerance to dissenting legal voices.
“Ssemakadde is in exile for his opinions. That alone speaks volumes,” he noted.
The opposition leader called on legal professionals to “think outside the box” and prioritize the cases of political prisoners and broader human rights concerns.
He accused the judiciary of contributing to overcrowded prisons by remanding victims of political persecution without fair trial or due process.
Citing a recent example, he condemned authorities for ignoring a court directive to transfer his aide, Eddie Mutwe, from Masaka Prison to Luzira for medical treatment.
“To date, that order has not been implemented a clear sign that judicial authority is being routinely undermined,” Kyagulanyi said.
He also raised alarm over 18 missing NUP supporters, allegedly abducted by security forces, vowing to pursue all “legal and constitutional avenues” to secure their freedom.
Quoting civil rights activist Malcolm X, Kyagulanyi urged citizens to take responsibility in what he termed a “collective liberation struggle.”
“No one can make you a slave without your permission,” he said, adding, “Every Ugandan must play their part.”
The UPDF Amendment Act, signed into law earlier this year, has faced criticism from civil society and rights groups for allowing military courts to try civilians a practice condemned by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Kyagulanyi’s remarks come amid increasing tensions between the state and opposition actors, as questions persist about the independence of the judiciary and the state of human rights in the country.