President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commended Members of Parliament for passing the controversial Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill, 2025, describing it as a critical step toward strengthening the country’s military justice system.
The new legislation expands the jurisdiction of military courts, allowing them to try civilians under specific conditions—particularly in cases involving serious offences such as treason, murder, or the unlawful possession of military equipment, especially when in collaboration with military personnel.
Speaking on Wednesday during a leaders’ meeting at Timnah Nursery and Primary School in Mabaale village, Luwero District, President Museveni praised the bill’s passage while on a tour to assess the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) and other wealth creation initiatives.
He emphasized that the amendment helps resolve long-standing jurisdictional tensions between civilian courts, the army, and Parliament.
“There was going to be a serious problem because some people argued that soldiers who commit crimes like killing, theft, or rape should be tried in sub-county courts instead of the Court Martial,” Museveni said.
“Those involved in pushing that idea should repent. But Parliament has saved us from embarrassment.”
The UPDF Amendment Bill introduces wide-ranging reforms. It creates a new Directorate of Military Prosecutions to professionalize the handling of military cases, reorganizes health services for armed forces personnel, and enhances the management of veterans’ affairs.
Importantly, the bill also introduces procedural safeguards, including the requirement that any death sentence passed by a military court must be confirmed by the Supreme Court before being carried out.
It further clarifies the appeals process within the military justice system, establishing a chain of progression—from Unit Court Martial to Division Court Martial, then to the General Court Martial, followed by the Court of Appeal, and finally to the Supreme Court.
Opposition Members of Parliament on Tuesday staged a walkout from Parliament in protest, refusing to participate in what they described as an “illegal and rushed process” ahead of the scheduled debate on the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, while addressing the House, sharply criticized the conduct of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee. He accused the committees of fast-tracking the bill without adequate scrutiny or public consultation.
The UPDF Amendment Bill has ignited intense public and political debate, with critics warning that its provisions risk centralizing military and political authority. Detractors argue that the bill could have far-reaching implications for democratic governance in Uganda, particularly amid ongoing concerns about military involvement in civilian affairs and the broader question of political succession.
