According to legislative sources, the bill establishes that civilians can be tried in court if their alleged crimes support or are in association with persons subject to military law.

Local media also informed that opposition figures and human rights activists insist that this legislation is an anti-democratic effort, before the 2026 elections, as military courts could increase political repression.

Specialists in the matter, in turn, emphasized on Wednesday that this legislation is an attempt to grant unconstitutionally judicial powers reserved to higher courts to subordinate military courts, which have specialized jurisdiction to handle only disciplinary offenses in the military sphere.

The bill is due to be signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in the coming days.

jrr/iff/oda/fvt