President Yoweri Museveni has praised the Ugandan Parliament for passing the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill, saying the legislation has fortified national stability and averted what he termed as a “big problem.”
Speaking at the 2025 State of the Nation Address held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Thursday, Museveni commended lawmakers and the Speaker for backing a military justice system that keeps army discipline matters within the UPDF framework.
“I want to congratulate Parliament. I want to congratulate the Speaker for saving us that big, big problem because there is no way UPDF soldiers can go to the magistrates courts once they have made mistakes in the barracks initially. It’s not possible. I don’t think it happens in other armies,” Museveni, 80, said.
The President noted that several bills passed during the fourth session of the 11th Parliament had directly contributed to the country’s peace and order, singling out the UPDF Bill as an essential tool in preserving the unique internal discipline structure of the armed forces.
The UPDF Amendment Bill was passed in April 2025 following intense deliberation. It strengthens the jurisdiction of military courts and restricts the civil judiciary’s role in handling offenses committed by army officers in the line of duty.
Critics had earlier expressed concern about potential implications on the rights of soldiers, but the government maintained that the reform would enhance military cohesion and command structures.
