By Edwin Nwachukwu
Uganda, Jan. 31, 2025 – UN Human Rights spokesperson Liz Throssell welcomes today’s decision by the Supreme Court of Uganda to declare unconstitutional the practice of trying civilians in military courts.
Throssell urges the relevant authorities to comply promptly with the Supreme Court’s ruling and immediately transfer any such ongoing and pending trials that warrant further proceedings under international law to civilian courts of competent jurisdiction.
According to her, alternatively, proceedings should be quashed and any civilians detained under the authority of the military courts released.
”In addition, the Uganda People’s Defense Forces Act (UPDF), under which civilians have been tried before court-martials, should be further amended to align with relevant provisions of the Ugandan constitution and international human rights law, to ensure compliance with international standards of due process and fair trial.”
