“Why would anybody say to be tried in a military court is wrong? So that why Supreme Court said “no”. It can happen. Can be done. But the court itself, the military court should have one, two, three, four, five. To, to have fair constitution. We are very happy with that. This was correct. We didn’t know those gaps. Me I didn’t know. I thought there was no gap. I didn’t even know that somebody had removed the people, had changed the military court from subordinate court to be a parallel court. Apparently, somebody had made amendments saying that they are fine, the decision was not appealable. That’s not correct. Let it be initial centre of handling the matter, of course efficiency and focus, they are focusing on the discipline of the army, but also on the misuse of guns and weapons normally belonging to the army. So they are a bit focused. Why don’t you allow them to focus? Then you can, if somebody not satisfied, they can appeal to the superior courts. For us we don’t see anything” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (19.01.2025).
The ones that thinks the National Resistance Movement (NRM) are working in their kindness in their hearts or for the betterment of the Republic. Then you are currently very wrong, as the oppression and the needs for controlled instruments of power is astute. The state needs certain types of Courts and Tribunals, which they control to keep people behind bars and on remand without any Constitutional oversight or accountability.
That¨s why the President is so mad at the Supreme Court. As it had clipped the wings of the oppression and the methods of keeping civilians behind bars. The prolonged detentions without any sort of fair trial or proceedings. That’s what His Excellency begs for and gotten his party to move.
The NRM Caucus today has made it possible and most likely will amend the UPDF Act in such a manner that allows civilians to be tried first in the General Court Martial. They are saying that is in only in cases concerning “the civilians who acquire specified firearms illegally, be tried by the Military Court Martial, in first instance, with the rights to appeal through the civilian courts”. That’s the language used and look closely.
The first instance meaning the first court is the GCM. The first one for illegally acquire firearms are the GCM. So, if the authorities are pinning illegal firearms on someone. They can take that person and charge that person at the GCM. That’s what they want to do. This is giving the authorities the excuse and the reason to use the GCM.
The ones wondering where the NRM Caucus got this idea from… that was from the Fountain of Honour and they are just honouring his whims. They are just doing his bidding and serving his wishes. The President wanted this and now they are committing to enacting it.
This is all President Museveni and how he wants the Republic to be run. He needs the General Court Martial and appointed stooges to continue the tyranny. That’s all he wants and needs. He doesn’t care about rule of law or justice for civilians. No, the President needs the GCM to serve his interests and his purpose of spreading fear or intimidation to the masses. They should fear and hope they never get apprehended to a GCM. That is the reality here and that’s what the President wants.
So his Law Enforcement and Security Organizations can detain and keep dissidents at bay. That without interference or legal mechanisms to stop them in their tracks. They need this sort of apparatus to ensure just that.
This is why the NRM works on overtime to make it happen. Not for the betterment or justified to the people. No, they do it to please their master and ensure his subjects can get taken to court. Peace.
MinBane 