The Ugandan government intends to introduce a law allowing military tribunals to try civilians for certain offenses, despite a recent Supreme Court ruling banning the practice.
The proposed law, which has been drafted and awaits cabinet approval, could enable the government to prosecute opposition politician Kizza Besigye, a veteran rival of President Yoweri Museveni, in a military court martial.
Besigye has been detained for nearly five months on charges his lawyers say are politically motivated.
Human rights activists and opposition politicians have long accused Museveni’s government of using military courts to prosecute opposition leaders and supporters on trumped-up charges, which the government denies.
