Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the trial of opposition leader Kizza Besigye in a military court, providing an explanation for why civilians, including Besigye, can be tried in such courts.
In a statement on Thursday, December 12, Museveni explained that his party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), passed legislation in 2005 allowing civilians to be tried by military courts.
He stated that this was in response to the inefficiencies of civilian courts in quickly handling cases involving gun violence.
“I have seen the arguments in the papers by some lawyers regarding the correctness of civilians being tried in the Court Martial,” Museveni said.
“I want to affirm that this move was correct and useful, and it has contributed to the stabilization of Uganda.”
The president further explained that the law was enacted due to the rise in violent criminal activities and terrorism involving firearms.
“It is the NRM that in the year 2005 enacted this law through Parliament.
This was because of the rampant activities of criminals and terrorists that were using guns to kill people indiscriminately,” he stated.
Museveni emphasized that military courts provide a faster judicial process to deal with individuals who possess firearms.
He further justified the trial of Besigye and others by stating that those carrying weapons were effectively “soldiers,” and as such, they should be tried under military law.
“Since you became a ‘soldier,’ albeit an illegal one, be tried by a court-martial because it is the one that deals with guns,” he added.
Museveni’s remarks came in response to public and legal debates over Besigye’s trial, with many critics arguing that trying civilians in military courts undermines the justice system and violates their right to a fair trial.
Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, called for his immediate release, questioning the legality of his detention in a military jail given that he is not a soldier.
Besigye was abducted in Nairobi while attending an event and was taken to Uganda, where he was charged in a military court alongside his colleague Hajj Obeid Lutale.
The charges include offenses related to national security and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The Kenyan government has denied any involvement in Besigye’s abduction.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei clarified that Kenya was unaware of Besigye’s presence in the country and had no role in the incident.
“The circumstances surrounding Kizza’s travel are not known to us because no information was shared with us prior to his trip.
We did not know which hotel he was booked into or where he stayed, and therefore we were not in a position to provide him with any additional security,” Sing’oei stated.
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