Museveni Justifies Military Trials for Civilians Following Besigye’s Arrest

Summary:

• President Museveni has defended using military courts to try civilians, citing the need for faster justice in gun-related crimes. This follows the arrest and delayed trial of opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who faces charges he denies.

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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, 80, has defended the use of military courts to try civilians, following criticism over the arrest and trial of opposition leader Kizza Besigye. Besigye, aged 68, is facing charges of possessing pistols and attempting to purchase weapons abroad, allegations he denies. Arrested while in Kenya last month and forcibly brought to Uganda, Besigye learned on Tuesday that his trial would be delayed until January, meaning he will spend Christmas in custody.

Museveni explained that any crime involving firearms is handled by military courts to maintain national stability, citing the slow pace of civilian courts in dealing with such cases. Despite the Constitutional Court’s ruling against this practice, military courts have tried numerous civilians. In a post on X, Museveni said the 2005 law allowing military trials was enacted in response to widespread criminal and terrorist activity involving firearms. He emphasized that civilian courts were overwhelmed with other cases, which made them too slow to address gun-related crimes.

Besigye, a long-time rival of Museveni, objected to being tried by a military court, asserting that any charges against him should be handled by a civilian court. Besigye has contested four presidential elections against Museveni, who has been in power since 1986. Although less active in politics in recent years, Besigye has resumed his political efforts to address divisions within his party.

Human rights groups have condemned Besigye’s treatment, arguing that civilians tried in military courts lack the due process protections offered by civilian courts. UN human rights chief Volker Türk echoed these concerns, and organizations like Human Rights Watch have called for an end to the military trial of political opponents.

In his statement, Museveni defended the use of court martials, asserting that they contributed to the country’s peace and stability.