Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has signed an amendment that will again trial civilians in military courts in some cases.
In January, the Supreme Court ruled that previous laws allowing such trials were unconstitutional.
Before that ruling, civilians could be brought to military courts if military equipment such as guns or army uniforms were found. Radicals complain that the law is used to persecute government critics.
The amendment was passed last month, amid the massive presence of police and the boycott of opposition lawmakers, who argued that it violated the country's Supreme Court ruling.
In January, the judge said that military courts were neither just nor the ability to exercise judicial functions, the International Society of Human Rights reported at the time.
The amendment appears to be trying to solve some problems.
It said the person presided over the court should have relevant legal qualifications and training. It also said that in carrying out their legal functions, they should be independent and impartial.
However, if military hardware is found, civilians can still be transferred.
“The law will decisively deal with armed violent criminals, preventing the formation of military political groups that try to subvert the democratic process and ensure that national security is tied to the foundation of the company. If it is not bankrupt, don't resolve it!”, after the bill passed MPS, read on X on X.
But opposition leader Bobi Wine said the law will be used for him and others.
“Everyone in the opposition is the goal of the bill,” he told AFP.
For years, activists have believed that the government is using military courts to silence dissidents, and the accusations have been implanted with evidence.
“If you are a political opponent, they will find a way to get you under a military court and then you know your fate has been sealed … Once there, justice will never visit your door.”
He added that as the court awaits decisions from senior military figures, people can spend years in custody, which may never come, and those who are tried and found guilty are subject to severe penalties than civil courts.
A recent compelling case following the arrest of long-time opposition figure Kizza Besigye in November. He was picked up in neighboring Kenya, crossed the border, and then charged in military court with possession of a pistol and attempted to buy weapons abroad, which he denied.
When the Supreme Court ruled, the charges were dropped and replaced by others with other charges.
Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, described the judgment as a “wrong decision” and added: “The country is not subject to the jurisdiction of judges. It is subject to the people”.
He had previously defended the use of military courts, saying they dealt with “rampant activities of criminals and terrorists who were killing people with guns”.
He said civilian courts were too busy to “quickly deal with these gun-bearing criminals.”
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