Uganda: Comment on Supreme Court ruling on trial of civilians by military courts
Press releases
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
31 January 2025
From
UN Human Rights spokesperson Liz Throssell
Location
Geneva
We welcome today's decision by the Supreme Court of Uganda to declare unconstitutional the practice of trying civilians in military courts.
We urge the relevant authorities to comply promptly with the Supreme Court's ruling and immediately transfer any such ongoing and pending trials which warrant further proceedings under international law to civilian courts of competent jurisdiction. 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, in order to ensure compliance with international standards of due process and fair trial.
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