Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, 80, has defended the use of military courts to try civilians, following widespread criticism over the arrest and trial of opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
Besigye, 68, was charged in a military court with possessing pistols and attempting to procure weapons abroad accusations he denies.
He was abducted in Kenya last month and forcibly returned to Uganda, where his trial has been delayed until January, meaning he will spend Christmas in custody.
Museveni argued that cases involving firearms must be handled by military courts to maintain stability, citing delays in civilian court proceedings. “Any crime involving a gun is dealt with in a military court,” he stated in a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter).
He added that his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) enacted legislation in 2005 to enable military trials, claiming it was necessary to address rampant criminal and terrorist activities involving firearms.
However, the Constitutional Court has previously ruled against the practice, and rights groups have condemned it as unjust.
Besigye, a long-time political rival of Museveni who has contested and lost four presidential elections since 1986, has objected to being tried in a military court, insisting any charges against him should be heard in a civilian court.
Activists and international rights organizations have rallied behind Besigye, describing his treatment as unfair and politically motivated.
“Civilians tried in Uganda’s military courts do not receive the same due process guarantees as those in civilian courts,” said UN human rights chief Volker Türk.
Human Rights Watch also urged Uganda to cease using military courts to target political opponents.
Museveni dismissed the criticisms, praising military courts for contributing to Uganda’s peace and stability. “You have made your own contribution to our peace,” he concluded.
BBC/Patience Ameh
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