Overview

• Uganda's parliament passed a law reinstating military trials for civilians, defying a January Supreme Court ruling that banned such prosecutions.
• The legislation allows civilians to be court-martialed if their offenses are linked to military personnel and mandates that presiding officers have legal qualifications.
• Opposition members staged a walkout during the parliamentary session, calling the move unconstitutional and politically motivated.
• Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have criticized Uganda's military courts for lacking impartiality and fair trial safeguards, citing concerns over torture-derived evidence.
• President Museveni, who has criticized the judiciary's authority, is expected to sign the bill into law soon, raising fears of increased political suppression ahead of the 2026 elections.