
“I want to congratulate the Members of Parliament for passing the UPDF Amendment Bill. There was going to be a serious problem because some people were saying if a soldier does commit a crime such as killing a person, involving in theft or rapes a woman, they should be taken to the sub county (civilian courts) instead of the court martial. Those who were involved have to repent. There was going to be a serious collision between the army, parliament, and the courts of law, but they have saved us the embarrassment” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (21.05.2025).
When the enactment of the UPDF Amendment Bill is finalized. That’s when the President has ascended the law. This is when the law is active and the UPDF Act has gotten firmly amended. At that point in time. The public, the civilians and everyone should be worried. Because that point, everyone is a target and any part of the UPDF Act can be used against them.
A civilian isn’t part of the army. A citizen isn’t by law part of the UPDF, but the UPDF has jurisdiction and is allowed to try a civilian in their General Court Martial or their Military Tribunals, which means in all practicality, every single citizen is by default a part of the army. The state is fully militarized and it was only a matter of time.
The junta government that has used UPDF to fix everything else, it is now the latest cog in the machine to fix the judiciary too. They are there to fix and order the civilians around. The UPDF is now an entity with such broad power, that it can even release press releases directly from the State House under the guise of the Special Forces Command (SFC). That’s how the army and the military are a part of the government now.
This amendment of the law is only making the General Court Martial a tool and an instrument to take in dissidents and opposition leader on prompt up charges. That’s what the state has done before and would easily do again. Especially, now that the Parliament and the state has amended the laws to fit it’s prerogative.
The General Court Martial wasn’t used for what sort of spin the President is talking about. No, it is well known for targeting civilians and dissidents of the state. The GCM was used as a way of keeping the opposition detained and without proper cause. The GCM was used as a tool and an instrument to silence critics. That’s the end game here and it’s a message ahead of the polls.
Now every civilian is enlisted and conscripted in a way. Since they all can suddenly face a Military Tribunal. Even if they never was a part of the army or the UPDF. That’s the signal of the state. This is concerning, but not surprising.
The President got what he wanted and now he can suppress anyone he likes. That’s what he fancies and that is the sort of leader he has become. Peace.






















