ARMED CRIMINALS BELONG IN MILITARY COURTS, NOT CIVILIAN PLAYGROUNDS – M7
By Aggrey Baba
They say, “When the lion roars, the jungle listens,” and President Yoweri Museveni’s recent defense of Uganda’s Court Martial system echoes just that. A roar cutting through the ongoing legal debates. His remarks have sparked conversations far and wide, as legal minds weigh in on whether civilians should be subjected to military trials. While some see the practice as walking a tightrope of fairness, Museveni sees it as a sturdy bridge to peace and stability, especially in a nation once plagued by lawlessness.
The fire in this debate was recently rekindled by the trial of Dr. Kizza Besigye and his aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya. The duo, accused of possessing illegal firearms and other security-related offenses, was arrested in Kenya and brought to Uganda to face the military court. Critics argue that civilians in such trials risk being “judged with a sword instead of a scale.” But Museveni counters that in matters of national security, justice delayed is peace denied.
Speaking on Thursday, December 12, 2024, the President didn’t mince words. “I have heard the noise in the legal circles, but let me remind them that a leaking pot cannot hold water,” he said, explaining why the military court was brought in to handle cases of armed civilians. He cited how civilian courts, overwhelmed with a backlog of cases ranging from land disputes to murder, were ill-equipped to swiftly deal with gun-wielding criminals whose actions threatened the country’s stability.
Museveni drew attention to a critical legal principle, when civilians pick up arms to terrorize the population, they blur the lines between civilian and soldier. “These people voluntarily chose guns over dialogue,” he said. “If you choose the path of war, you must be ready to meet the tools of war, even in justice.”
The President highlighted Karamoja as a shining example of the Court Martial’s impact. Once a land of chaos, the region has found relative peace, thanks to swift and decisive action by the military courts. [When the fire burns your neighbor’s house, you fetch water for your own], he remarked, noting how timely interventions saved Karamoja from the spiral of violence. Over 900 Karamojong youth remain in custody for armed crimes, a move Museveni says brought calm to the area. He added, however, that he has directed an audit of these cases to separate those eligible for pardon from hardened offenders.
Museveni’s confidence in the Court Martial is grounded in its subordination to civilian judicial oversight. [If mistakes are made, the higher courts have the broom to sweep away the errors], he assured the public, emphasizing that the system is not above scrutiny but rather a complementary arm of justice tailored for specific threats.
He challenged critics to look beyond theory and consider the practical benefits. “If you asked the people of Karamoja, they would say, ‘Blessed is the hand that keeps the peace.’ They have seen the fruits of this approach and would not trade it for the old ways of endless remands and bail for criminals.”
As the President continues to defend the Court Martial, he reminds Ugandans that, [peace, like a garden, requires constant tending]. The military courts, he believes, are a necessary tool in weeding out the thorns of crime, ensuring the nation’s stability remains unshaken. [When the drumbeat changes, the dance must also change]. Uganda’s justice system must adapt to the times to safeguard its people and future. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).