Museveni’s remarks come amid heated debates surrounding the ongoing trial of opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his associate, Obeid Lutale, in the Makindye-based General Court Martial.

President Museveni, in a detailed statement on Thursday, December 12, 2024, praised the role of the Court Martial system, referring to it as "eyokyeero," a Runyankore term meaning reinforcement.

He attributed the establishment of military trials for civilians to the increasing activities of criminals and terrorists who have wielded weapons indiscriminately to harm Ugandans.

President Yoweri Museveni’s remarks come amid heated debates surrounding the ongoing trial of opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his associate, Obeid Lutale, in the Makindye-based General Court Martial.

Museveni argued that the civilian court system, overwhelmed with a backlog of cases including murders, assaults, and land disputes, could not efficiently handle gun-related crimes.

"For stabilization, you need speed," Museveni argued, adding that military courts provide the necessary swiftness and decisiveness to deal with armed offenders.

He stressed that such offenders, though civilians, become "soldiers" in a sense by taking up arms and should therefore face the jurisdiction of the Court Martial, which is specifically designed to handle cases involving weapons.

The president’s comments were a direct response to legal and public criticism, particularly from opposition voices, about the legality and morality of trying civilians in military courts.

Lawyers for Besigye and Lutale have described the Court Martial proceedings as illegitimate, with lead counsel Erias Lukwago labeling it a "kangaroo court."

Besigye’s lawyers addressing journalists in Kampala, Uganda.

Besigye, a retired army officer turned opposition leader, has long been a thorn in Museveni’s side, having run against him in four contested presidential elections.

Besigye and Lutale were recently charged with endangering national security and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Their detention followed their controversial abduction by Ugandan intelligence agents in Nairobi, Kenya, last November.

Despite protests, the two remain in custody, with their case adjourned until January 7, 2025.

Critics, including Besigye’s legal team, have argued that Ugandan law does not permit civilians to be tried in military courts, making their trial unconstitutional. They have refused to apply for bail, maintaining their stance against the court’s legitimacy.

However, Museveni defended the practice, stating that the military court system operates as a subordinate to civilian courts, with opportunities for appeal and oversight to rectify any miscarriages of justice.

"If the Court Martial judges badly, the superior courts will rectify the issue," Museveni stated.

He also argued that military trials provide a pragmatic solution to keeping dangerous individuals off the streets.

Citing his recent tour of Karamoja, Museveni pointed to the effectiveness of military courts in addressing crime in the region. He noted that over 900 Karamojong youth, detained for gun-related crimes, were being processed by military tribunals.

The president credited this approach for the restoration of peace in the region, contrasting it with what he termed as the inefficiency of civilian courts where offenders are often "granted bail or kept on remand endlessly where they form part of the backlog of the general court system."

Museveni proposed a referendum in districts like Karamoja to gauge public support for the military court’s jurisdiction over civilians, expressing confidence that such a measure would receive overwhelming approval.

The Besigye case, however, remains a lightning rod for dissent, with opposition leaders and activists accusing the government of weaponizing military courts to suppress political opponents.

President Yoweri Museveni has praised the role of the Court Martial system, referring to it as "eyokyeero," a Runyankore term meaning reinforcement.