The Uganda Law Society presents a motion aimed at establishing a demilitarization fund to handle Ugandans who go through military courts. The demilitarization fund will provide legal and financial support to people who are not well represented during the military judiciary processes.

The ULS Treasurer, Arthur Isiko, said the organization looks forward to raising at least 10 billion Ugandan shillings to make the fund effective. He added that most of those who suffer, especially from Karamoja, are people leaving military courts. They take long periods in confinement before taking their cases for civil court proceedings. In fact, they always pay extra to hire lawyers. It would, therefore, reduce the financial burden of individuals who require the service by offering legal support and assistance.

He said this on Thursday while speaking during a public event organized by ULS. The Vice President explained that there was an urgent need to increase the provision of legal support to the people in military courts, and that some of them were kept in military detention without legal representation, making it hard for them to defend themselves. ULS will take lead to ensure that such people get legal representation for a fair trial and access to justice.

The president of the ULS, Isaac Ssemakadde, also shared his concerns regarding a legal limbo in which those tried by military courts had been left. A recent ruling, he noted, by the Supreme Court failed to put to rest the question of military trials. The ruling only clarified the position of those whose cases were still pending in court, failing to indicate what should happen to those already convicted by military courts. Ssemakadde said ULS was committed to ensuring this gap is closed and that justice is meted out on all those affected by such trials.

The demilitarization fund is likely to facilitate access to justice by increasing legal representation for persons caught up in military judicial procedures. Many Ugandans have struggled in military courts, and without any legal aid, they often find themselves in situations where they do not get a fair hearing. The fund will go a long way in assisting such persons by offering them legal guidance and helping them to navigate their cases.

The Uganda Law Society will ensure that the best legal services are availed to all Ugandans, regardless of their legal status. By advocating for this fund, ULS is optimistic that this would ensure fair play and inclusion of all citizens before the justice system, more so for the Military Court-martialled suspects.

This initiative is expected to face criticism regarding the perceived unfairness in military court proceedings. It has been pointed out several times by many experts in jurisprudence that military courts work on a completely different agenda compared to civilian courts and often do not extend the same kind of legal protection to persons accused. The ULS, with its proposed demilitarization fund, hopes to bridge this gap by providing the affected individuals with the relevant ammunition to defend themselves legally.

Besides, ULS feels this fund will drum up awareness on the need for reforms in military trials. According to lawyers, civilians should not face trial in military courts since they might be denied their legal rights just as in a civilian court. The Uganda Law Society is advocating for more humane treatment of civilians trapped in military cases, providing them with assistance in legal aid and offering supplementary means of sustenance.

The establishment of this fund also demonstrates the struggles of people from marginal regions such as Karamoja. In cases where people from such areas have been engulfed in court cases, especially military courts, it has largely been a nightmare. Setting up the demilitarization fund is, therefore, one way through which ULS seeks to ensure access to legal aid and justice in all parts of Uganda, particularly among the most vulnerable communities.

The move has been welcomed by legal experts, human rights activists, and members of the general public as ULS continues to work toward setting up the fund. Many see this as a necessary step to address the legal challenges faced by civilians in military courts and ensure the justice system works fairly for all Ugandans.

But all this will only be possible when the government, the private sector, and international donors contribute to the fund. ULS will most likely seek financial support from different quarters so that the fund can be operable and viable.

The move by the Uganda Law Society to create a demilitarisation fund is a major step toward ensuring justice for all Ugandans. ULS tries to bridge the gap in legal inequalities through legal and financial aid given to civilians subjected to military trials. The organization remains committed to making the legal system fairer and more open to those who require access most. This fund will create ripples that reverberate past the military courts and into broader justice reform in Uganda.