Uganda’s Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling on Friday that offers renewed hope for opposition leader Kizza Besigye, as it declared that civilians cannot be tried in military courts. This decision comes as a potential turning point for Besigye, who has faced treason charges in a military court following his arrest in November 2024. The ruling signals a possible end to his prolonged legal battle, with the Supreme Court ordering that all ongoing trials involving civilians in military courts be transferred to ordinary civilian courts.
Besigye, a former personal physician to President Yoweri Museveni, has long been a prominent figure in Uganda’s opposition. After running for president four times without success, Besigye’s political activism and vocal criticism of Museveni’s government have made him a target. The 67-year-old’s arrest in November, which occurred while he was in Kenya for a book launch, sparked widespread condemnation, with his wife, Winnie Byanyima, the UNAIDS chief, calling the treason charges “a sham.”
The case against Besigye, which includes accusations of treason and a potential death sentence, was being heard in a court martial, raising significant concerns about the fairness of the trial. Besigye’s legal team, led by lawyer Erias Lukwago, welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, describing it as an end to the “impunity” associated with military courts. Lukwago emphasized that the ruling would not only affect Besigye but also others who had been unjustly imprisoned under military jurisdiction.
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, who delivered the verdict, argued that military courts could not be impartial when trying civilians, as they ultimately answered to the military. This decision has profound implications for future trials of civilians in Uganda, with legal experts noting that the Supreme Court’s ruling should be final unless the government attempts to challenge the constitutionality of the decision.
Besigye’s arrest and trial are part of a broader pattern of repression of opposition figures in Uganda, a situation that has drawn criticism from both human rights organizations and international bodies such as the United Nations. As Uganda heads toward presidential elections in 2026, the ruling marks a rare victory for the country’s embattled opposition and provides a glimmer of hope for those seeking greater political freedom in the country.
With Besigye’s case now likely to shift to a civilian court, his supporters are optimistic that this could pave the way for the veteran politician’s eventual release. However, the political climate in Uganda remains tense, and the upcoming election period is expected to be fraught with challenges for opposition figures and civil society.
