Museveni Breaks Silence on Supreme Court Ruling in Besigye Case: Ugandans Shocked
kakooza Peter
Feb 3, 2025
Ugandans were taken aback by President Yoweri Museveni's forceful critique of the Supreme Court's decision that civilians should not face trial in military courts.
Museveni expressed his disapproval shortly after a tour promoting the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Lango, labeling the judges as too influenced by foreign perspectives and neglectful of the critical role played by the General Court Martial when dealing with armed civilians.
President Museveni firmly stated that in Uganda, the power to govern lies with its citizens, not the judiciary. He stressed that governance decisions, including those related to judicial rulings, should be made through referendums, constitutional changes, or legislative measures.
"The country is governed by the people, all Ugandans old enough to vote," he declared, directing Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka to draft amendments to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Museveni also defended the necessity of military courts for addressing cases that involve armed offenders, questioning why those caught with illegal weapons would object to being tried in a court specifically set up for such issues.
Despite his critiques, he commended Justices Mike Chibita and Oscar Mugyenyi for recognizing the authority of military courts in these matters.
As Museveni advocates for these judicial changes, Uganda is poised to see how this controversial legal and political issue will unfold.
