The trial of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, which has sparked international outrage, continues despite a recent Supreme Court ruling that it is unconstitutional for civilians to be tried in military courts. Besigye, a former presidential candidate and trusted personal doctor to President Yoweri Museveni, has been facing treason charges, including conspiring to murder the president, armed rebellion, and terrorism. His trial is being held in a military court, and if convicted, he could face the death penalty.
The ruling by Uganda’s Chief Justice on Friday that civilians should not be tried in military courts has raised hopes for Besigye’s supporters, who have long decried the proceedings as politically motivated. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of UNAIDS, has called the trial a “sham.” However, despite the ruling, the military has insisted that the trial will proceed.
President Museveni, who has been in power for nearly 40 years, condemned the court’s decision in a post on social media, calling it a “wrong decision.” He reaffirmed his stance, stating that Uganda “cannot and will not abandon this useful instrument for stability,” referring to the military courts. Museveni believes that such trials are necessary to maintain law and order, particularly in cases involving armed insurgents or those plotting violence against the state.
Army spokesman Chris Magezi stated that Colonel Besigye would not be released until he faces the “full extent of martial law.” The military’s insistence on continuing the trial in the face of the Supreme Court’s ruling has sparked outrage among opposition figures and human rights defenders. Medard Sseggona, an opposition politician, described the situation as a breakdown of the rule of law in Uganda. Former opposition MP Michael Kabaziguruka, who successfully challenged his own trial in a military court, warned that the ongoing defiance of the court’s ruling signals Uganda’s descent into a “military state.”
The defiant stance of the military is concerning to many, particularly as Uganda approaches the 2026 presidential election, in which President Museveni, at 80 years old, will seek a sixth term. Critics worry that the military’s growing influence over civilian matters undermines democracy in Uganda and stifles political opposition.
As the trial of Besigye continues, both the local and international community will be watching closely to see how the government responds to legal challenges and the growing calls for respect for constitutional rule. The case has become a symbol of the broader struggles faced by the opposition in Uganda, where repression has been intensifying ahead of the 2026 elections.
