By The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has announced plans to challenge the constitutionality of the recently enacted Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Act, 2025, which expands the powers of military courts to try civilians.
In a statement issued on June 16, the ULS said the decision to take legal action aligns with its longstanding commitment to demilitarization, human rights protection, and judicial independence. The controversial Act, signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni on June 12, allows military courts to prosecute civilians accused of possessing military equipment or collaborating with soldiers in grave offences such as treason or murder.
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ULS Vice President Asiliwe Anthony said the organization remains resolute in its opposition to “militarism and its encroachment on civilian institutions,” citing Constitutional Petition 18 of 2005, in which ULS challenged similar measures.
“Despite challenges posed by the government’s lack of transparency and funding constraints, we are committed to exploring alternative funding sources to pursue justice,” Anthony stated.
The law society also reaffirmed its support for victims affected by past military court proceedings, particularly those impacted by the Supreme Court’s decision in the Kabaziguruka case, which questioned the legality of trying civilians in military tribunals.
The ULS’s High Profile Case Unit, under the Office of the President of the Law Society, is expected to spearhead the legal challenge. The statement concluded with a call for citizens to remain vigilant and a reassurance that the Radical New Bar a reformist faction within the ULS remains committed to defending rights and constitutionalism in Uganda.
The UPDF Amendment Act has sparked sharp criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who say it undermines the authority of civilian courts and poses a threat to civil liberties.
