The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill 2025 has been tabled before Parliament, igniting swift controversy and raising concerns over transparency and due process.
The bill, formally introduced by Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Oboth-Oboth, seeks to reinstate the trial of civilians in military courts, a practice recently barred by the Supreme Court in a ruling on January 31, 2025.
The proposed legislation has drawn sharp criticism from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), who allege that Parliament is rushing the bill through without adequate public consultation or stakeholder participation.
According to the FDC, the party leadership received a late-night invitation at 5:25 PM yesterday to appear before the Committee of Defense and Legal Affairs at 9:00 AM today to provide their input on the bill, including written memoranda.
“How can we adequately scrutinise a bill in just one night?” questioned an FDC spokesperson. “The haste raises suspicions about the bill’s intentions.”
Further fuelling the controversy, the FDC pointed to a public notice regarding the bill published in the New Vision newspaper yesterday, with a deadline for submissions coinciding with today’s meeting. In addition, the party claims that the bill itself was inaccessible on the Parliamentary website, effectively hindering public scrutiny.
“This lack of access and the extremely short timeframe granted for review and input are unacceptable and undermine the fundamental principles of parliamentary democracy,” the FDC stated in a press release.
The FDC has formally requested more time to prepare their objections, emphasizing the serious implications of the bill. “FDC members have suffered greatly under military courts, and we strongly object to this unconstitutional law,” they stated. “Indeed, bad laws have far-reaching consequences, impacting everyone regardless of political affiliation.”
The reinstatement of military court jurisdiction over civilians remains a contentious issue, with critics arguing it undermines the principles of civilian justice and due process. The Supreme Court’s January ruling further solidified this argument, raising questions about the legitimacy of the proposed amendment.
As the bill progresses through Parliament, the debate surrounding its purpose, transparency, and potential impact on civil liberties is expected to intensify. The FDC’s call for greater scrutiny and extended consultation underscores the growing anxiety over the perceived rushed nature of the legislative process. The coming days will be crucial in determining the fate of the UPDF Amendment Bill 2025 and its potential ramifications for Uganda’s legal landscape.
