The General Court Martial at Makindye Military Barracks in Kampala Tuesday sentenced city lawyer Eron Kiiza to spend nine months at Kitalya prison over what it termed as “gross professional misconduct”.
Kiiza, one of the key lawyers in opposition figure Kizza Besigye’s trial before the military court, was found guilty of “banging the angle bars and didn’t listen to the chairman of the court”.
Kiiza, who was in the morning thrown into the caged dock alongside his clients Besigye and his associate Obeid Lutale, was brought to the court handcuffed after the lunch adjournment
Samuel Muyizi, another defence lawyer, said Kiiza had been tortured during the break and that his arm was dislocated. “He said they [military personnel] had [attempted to] strangle him,” Muyizi told reporters outside the court.
Kiiza’s sentence was passed without a trial, contrary to basic principles of the justice system even in a military court.
With deep concerns over the conduct of the military court that is largely seen as kangaroo by critics, the sentencing of Mr Kiiza without a hearing will be seen as a major abuse of the fundamental rights of the lawyer.
Critics have argued for years that the military court has no jurisdiction to try civilians and that military men treat civilians like military personnel when in the court martial.
Meanwhile, General Court Martial Chairman, Brig Freeman Robert Mugabe further remanded Besigye and Lutale until January 13 when they will return to the army court for further mention
