Uganda’s Supreme Court has ruled that civilians cannot be tried in military courts, a landmark decision that could put an end to the high-profile treason case against opposition figure Kizza Besigye. The ruling comes after Besigye, once a close ally of President Yoweri Museveni, was arrested in November and charged with treason, facing the death penalty in a military court. His wife, UNAIDS chief Winnie Byanyima, has labeled the proceedings a “sham.”
The court’s decision, announced by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, mandates that all civilian cases currently before military courts be transferred to civilian courts. The ruling has sparked widespread hope that the unfair treatment of civilians in military trials is finally over. Besigye’s lawyer, Erias Lukwago, hailed the ruling as the end of “impunity” for military courts, and it has been seen as a major victory for human rights and justice in Uganda.
Besigye, a longtime critic of President Museveni, has been a symbol of opposition to the regime. His trial in a military court has been a point of contention for many, who argue that it undermines Uganda’s legal system. The Supreme Court’s decision brings renewed optimism for the opposition and calls for more accountability within Uganda’s judiciary. It’s a significant blow to the government’s ability to use military courts as a tool of political control.
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