Mps sitting on the legal and parliamentary affairs committee and defence and internal affairs committee have today faced off with and floored the defence minister, Jacob Oboth, attorney general Kiryowa Kiwanuka and other officials from the UPDf as they began to hear views on the UPDf amendment bill 2025 that was read for the first time yesterday.
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The joint committee, chaired by Wilson Kajwengye and Stephen Baka Mugabi, was heated as MPS, both from the ruling NRM and the opposition, as they disagreed with trying civilians in a court martial.
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Supreme Court on 31st January ruled that civilians were illegally tried in court martial, and the amended bill has new clauses to strengthen the court martial at each unit and the general court martial, whose chairperson will not be below the rank of a brigadier but also with a rank of a high court judge.
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The panel shall have 3 Members appointed with guidance and consultation with the judicial service commission.
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Exceptional cases, including murder, cattle rustling, kidnappings with intent to murder, among others, warrant a court martial hearing, although MPS still insist the same can be tried in civilian courts.
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NRM caucus spokesperson, also Kagoma North MP Brandon Kintu, was the first to pour cold water on the bill, citing it as irrelevant to try civilians but instead to focus the energy on strengthening civilian courts
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Among other provisions in the bill, clause 202(a) calls for the judicial oath of panel members sitting on court martial, clause 202(b) establishes a department of administration of justice,202(c)Â looks into independence and impartiality of and 202(d) puts in place a disciplinary committee.
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Other MPS from Karamoja and Sebei regions were in total agreement with the amendment, citing gross murders by illegal possession of guns, ordinarily a preserve of the UPDf.
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The attorney general insists they have made the necessary remedies to align the bill.
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Defence Minister Jacob Oboth says they will abide by the provisions and consult the Judicial Service Commission going forward.
