The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba speaks during the 44th Tarehe Sita Day Celebrations at Kasasa playground in Kyotera District on February 6, 2025. PHOTO/PPU
The Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has criticised the Supreme Court for stripping powers of the military courts to try civilians.
Last Friday, the country’s highest court nullified “with immediate effect” all ongoing prosecutions of civilians in the General Court Martial and the military courts describing them as unconstitutional. The Supreme Court also made a raft of recommendations that call for amendment of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) Act, which set up the military court.
According to the justices of Supreme Court, the General Court Martial, the Division Court Martial, and the Court Martial Appeal Court don’t exhibit “independence and fairness” while dispensing justice since they derive their powers from the High Command, yet the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, demands a fair and impartial trial for every citizen.
Speaking during the 44th Tarehe Sita Day Celebrations at Kasasa playground in Kyotera District yesterday, Gen Muhoozi said he was shocked by the Supreme Court ruling and asked the President to act faster and seek a remedy.
“… I will not go into the details. We shall discuss this in the High Command. But Your Excellency, this development [of the Supreme Court ruling] is very unfortunate and quite unacceptable. It could herald a national security crisis threatening the effective command, control, and administration of the Defence Forces. We urge Your Excellency that you address this matter as soon as you can,”
He also vowed never to abandon or compromise what he described as the historical mission of UPDF “under any circumstances”.
Gen Muhoozi added: “We are in the meantime working with the Ministry of Defence and the Attorney General to ensure the necessary legislative amendments are made to address the mandate of the military court martial.”
As the country gears up for next year’s elections, the CDF said the army would be on standby to tackle any incidents that threaten national security.
“This year will be a political campaign year and as UPDF, we will be on the watch-out for political saboteurs to guarantee the peace and security of our people,” he said.
President Museveni was the first to slam the Supreme Court at the weekend, by saying he was “sorry to hear of the wrong decision” by the judges, He added that “ the country is not governed by the Judges” whom he believes are “foreign oriented in this matter”.
In another attempt to defend the military courts which his critics say are being used to persecute his political opponents, Mr Museveni who has been in power since 1986 when he shot his way to State House through a five-year guerilla warfare, said military trials are a method freedom fighters like himself support because it reinforces the civilian judicial system to defend the lives of “our people” against criminals armed with guns.
President Museveni inspects the parade during the 44th Tarehe Sita Day Celebrations at Kasasa playground in Kyotera District on February 7, 2025
But speaking at the same celebrations yesterday, President Museveni avoided discussing the issue. He instead focused on encouraging residents in the area to fight household poverty and do agriculture–related businesses that would grow Uganda’s economy. The President revealed that the country’s economy is projected to grow to $59.3 billion by June this year.
“We started with $4 billion in 1986 as the size of our economy, but today if you use the purchasing power parity, our economy will grow to $168.5 billion by June this year.”
And after June, our economy will grow by 7.3 percent without considering oil revenue. This is a high speed of growth and very few countries can grow by this speed. However, after oil production begins, our economy will grow at double-digit rates,” he said.
The President also commended scientists who have made strides in research and innovation and applauded Dei BioPharma Ltd , which he said has manufactured lifesaving vaccines and drugs, including cancer drugs.
Dei BioPharma Ltd is a biotech and pharmaceutical research firm duly incorporated in Uganda, specialising in the development and manufacture of innovative medicines and vaccines. The company is currently developing an iconic drugs and vaccines manufacturing facility situated at Mattuga, Wakiso District, and the facility is valued at $1.1 billion.
“These people are making us proud, I am going to give them medals. But also , I am going to request Mama Janet ,Gen Muhoozi and other children to allow me to sell some of my cows to thank them in a special way,”Mr Museveni said.
The 44th Tarehe Sita Day was marked under the theme “Celebrating Pan-African Solidarity and the people’s sacrifice in the struggle for freedom and democracy for social-economic transformation”.
ABOUT TAREHE SITA
Tarehe Sita is marked to remember the first guerrilla attack in 1981 on Kabamba Barracks in Mubende District that culminated into the five-year guerrilla war that eventually brought the ruling National Resistance Army/Movement (NRA/M ) and its leader, Yoweri Museveni to power in 1986.
Greater Masaka is a part of the areas of Central Uganda where NRA soldiers used to hide and the local economy reportedly got shattered partly because of the war and it is the very reason Opposition politicians always criticise the government for neglecting the area. It was after the capture of Masaka and Katonga Bridge along the Masaka–Kampala highway that the NRA, the military wing of NRM, which later morphed into UPDF, made more advances and eventually launched an eventual assault on Kampala.
