Kampala, Uganda — A group of activists today walked to the Supreme Court to protest what they termed ongoing trials of civilians before military courts of law and blatant human rights abuse. This protest comes hot on the heels of the controversial incarceration and sentencing of lawyer Eron Kiiza, representative of opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye.
Activists identified one case that epitomizes, they argue, illegal detention and summary conviction in a sentence: nine months imprisonment. It all began this Tuesday, when Eron Kiiza was convicted by the General Court Martial of “gross professional misconduct.” Accused of disturbing the court during proceedings “by banging the angle bars and refusing to listen to the chairman.”

Kiiza was put in the caged dock together with his clients, Dr. Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale during the morning session of the day. In the afternoon, which was after lunch, he appeared handcuffed. According to the fellow lawyer Samuel Muyizi, Kiiza was tortured during the adjournment and suffered a dislocated arm and survived an alleged attempted strangulation by military personnel.

“The military personnel tried to strangle him,” Muyizi told reporters, highlighting the brutal manner Kiiza was subjected to. As the court gave him a sentence without a formal trial, this development has sparked outrage with the critics labeling it as an “outright miscarriage of justice.”

Criticism of the Judiciary

In a joint statement, the protesters accused the Judiciary of doing nothing to deal with what they perceived as the abuse of the rule of law, particularly having harsh words for the Supreme Court for taking very long to make a decision in an important appeal concerning the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the jurisdiction of the General Court Martial.

The Constitutional Court had earlier ruled that under Article 28(1) of the Constitution, the Court Martial is neither independent nor impartial, and it has to strictly implement military discipline. The Supreme Court had stayed its execution, but activists say the decision has prolonged injustice.

“Kiiza joins a growing list of victims of gross human rights violations, while the Judiciary, supposed to uphold the rule of law, refuses or fails to act,” the activists said.

The March for Justice

Organized by several human rights groups and led by the Agora Centre for Research, the march symbolized resistance to what protesters termed a “state of lawlessness and abuse of power” in Uganda. The activists carried banners and chanted slogans demanding immediate action from the Supreme Court.

The Agora Centre’s efforts to get the Supreme Court to act on the appeal have been met with complete silence, it is reported, adding to the frustration of the activists. “We cannot sit back while civilians are subjected to these kangaroo courts,” said one protester.

Debate Over Military Courts

Kiiza’s case has reignited a broader debate over the legitimacy of military courts trying civilians. Legal experts and human rights advocates argue such courts deny civilians basic rights and due process. Critics have described them as “kangaroo courts” where justice is predetermined.

Military courts are for soldiers and should not try civilians,” said a legal analyst who requested anonymity. “Continued use of these courts against civilians is a direct violation of constitutional principles.”

Hope for Change

They appealed to the Supreme Court to speed up its judgment on the appeal, thus putting a stop to civilian cases tried in military court. The protesters say this act is very paramount for the reconstruction of citizens’ confidence in the Ugandan judicial court.

“This is not about Eron Kiiza; it is about the numerous Ugandans subjected to this injustice,” lamented another protestor. “Supreme Court must get to work immediately”.

A Call for Accountability
As the demonstrations continued, activists are demanding that the Judiciary take responsibility, as well as the government over the matter. They are calling on Ugandans to join the call for reforms so that justice can be served on all.

“We will not stop until the Judiciary does what it is supposed to do – protect rights of every Ugandan,” the statement concluded.

Events this week have thrust into the spotlight again the role of military courts in Uganda and the need for urgent reforms in the judiciary. Whether the Supreme Court will heed these calls remains to be seen, but the voices demanding justice are growing louder by the day.