The year 2025 kicked off with a flurry of political tension in Uganda, from the Kawempe North electoral chaos to a series of high-profile arrests and abductions, but none have stirred the pot quite like the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill. What started as a routine legal update has ballooned into a national debate about military power, constitutional rights, and the rule of law. So, what exactly is the 2025 UPDF Amendment Bill, and why is it facing fierce backlash from opposition leaders, human rights activists, and civil society groups?
What the 2025 UPDF Amendment Bill Is Really About
Initially tabled in December 2024, the UPDF Amendment Bill was framed as a simple update to the UPDF Act of 2005. The government said it aimed to modernise internal operations; that is to say, establish a Health Care Service and Medical Board for soldiers, restructure key military organs, and repeal the outdated Uganda Veterans Assistance Board Act. On the surface, it seemed procedural, until the Supreme Court contradicted it.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill 2025 introduces a legal proposal: civilians may soon find themselves standing trial in military courts under unspecified conditions in the bill. At the heart of this amendment is the illegal possession of certain firearms, “specified firearms,” as the bill puts it, although without a clear explanation or description.
What does this mean for the average Ugandan? Simply put, if a civilian is caught with military-grade weapons like assault rifles or explosives, they could be hauled before a court-martial, not a civilian judge. According to summaries of the bill, the accused would still retain the right to appeal through the civilian court system, but the initial trial would occur under military jurisdiction.
“A civilian who acquires specified firearms illegally shall be tried by the Military Courts Martial in the first instance, with the right of appeal through the civilian courts.”
This change in judicial authority raises major questions about who qualifies for a military trial and why. While the bill doesn’t spell out an exhaustive list of what counts as “specified firearms,” it strongly hints at high-calibre weaponry, tools typically reserved for warfare, not civilian possession, and this includes a wide range of items, including military-looking attire like camouflage clothes, boots, among others.
Who’s likely to be affected? At a glance:
Armed criminals caught with unauthorised military weapons.
Civilians linked (unspecified) to organised groups are deemed threats to national security.
Potentially, political activists or opposition figures, especially if history is any guide.
A person serving in a force outside Uganda.
And that’s where the real controversy lies. Uganda’s Supreme Court ruled earlier in 2025 that trying civilians in military courts is unconstitutional. Human rights watchdogs are already warning that this bill could be used as a political weapon, disguised as national security enforcement.
@odonga_otto UPDF act is a big no to.all ugandans #kagutamuseveni #updfuganda #parliamentofuganda #muhozikainerugaba ♬ original sound – POLITICAL PHILOSOPHER HON.OTTO
Critics also argue that this move contradicts international legal norms, which largely prohibit the military from prosecuting civilians. Groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch caution that giving military courts power over civilians opens the door to human rights abuses, rushed verdicts, and a blurring of justice.
Supporters, on the other hand, argue that the UPDF Amendment bill 2025 is a practical response to modern threats, especially today, where illegal firearms circulate far too freely and have been used in a series of previous crimes.
Government’s Attempt to Reassert Military Jurisdiction
Despite the landmark ruling, the government appeared hesitant to abandon its long-standing practice of court-martialling civilians. Critics argue that this was the bill’s true intent: to sidestep the court’s decision by re-legitimising military jurisdiction over civilians.
Three months after the Uganda Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for the General Court Martial to try civilians, the government on May 14, introduced a Bill in parliament to reverse that decision. Return of Military Court Martial – The Independent.
This, as expected, triggered political chaos. On February 7, 2025, the NRM Parliamentary Caucus convened at State House Entebbe, chaired by President Yoweri Museveni. Less than two weeks later, on February 20, Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua officially announced the bill’s withdrawal from Parliament. He said the government needed time to revise it in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Why the 2025 UPDF Bill Is Facing Strong Opposition
While government officials framed the bill as a matter of national security, the general populace, including the opposition, civil society, legal scholars, and human rights organisations, see it as a dangerous encroachment on civil liberties, and here’s why:
Violation of Constitutional Rights
The Supreme Court’s ruling is based on Article 28 of the Ugandan Constitution, which guarantees every individual the right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial tribunal. Military courts, by their very design and structure, do not meet this threshold when it comes to civilians.
“Military courts are not designed for civilians—they lack independence and fair trial guarantees,” said a human rights lawyer quoted by NTV Uganda.
Militarisation of Civilian Justice
Critics argue that maintaining military jurisdiction over civilians essentially militarises the justice system. This sets a dangerous precedent, especially in times of political unrest or elections, when the government has historically used military courts to prosecute opposition members, journalists, and activists.
Giving military courts power over civilians reduces transparency, accountability, and the presumption of innocence.
Lack of Transparency and Due Process
Military courts typically lack the transparency and procedural safeguards of civilian courts. Legal representation, appeal mechanisms, and open proceedings are often limited, raising concerns about the potential for abuse and politically motivated prosecutions.
Undermining Judicial Authority
Reintroducing provisions previously nullified by the Supreme Court could be a direct challenge to the judiciary’s independence. Critics warn that this undermines the doctrine of separation of powers, where the executive seeks to override the judiciary through legislative manoeuvres.
Suppression of Dissent
Human rights groups have long documented cases where civilians, particularly opposition supporters, were court-martialled to bypass the more stringent protections offered by civilian courts. The bill, in their view, risks becoming another legal tool for silencing dissent and a political manoeuvre against government opposition.
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, on May 19, duty-bound more than 300 of its Members of Parliament to back the controversial Uganda People’s Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill 2025 – Ruling Party ties MPs to back trial of civilians by army, Daily Monitor
UPDF Amendment Bill Parliamentary Walkout today
As of today, May 20, 2025, opposition Members of Parliament staged a dramatic walkout during a session where the controversial bill was being re-tabled as a direct protest against the government’s renewed attempts to reintroduce provisions allowing military trials for civilians.
UPDF Amendment Bill Passed
Unfortunately, the ruling party, NRM, holds a majority vote in Uganda’s parliament, and as such, the opposition walkout, while a feat of defiance, did little to prohibit the outcome per voting capacity. On May 20, the parliament of Uganda officially passed the UPDF Amendment Bill 2025, with a majority of NRM and Non-Party Members of Parliament, and it will now be sent to the President for approval and signing into law.
If enacted in its current form, this law could significantly alter Uganda’s justice system, particularly for civilians accused of certain offences. And for civilians caught in its crosshairs, the consequences could be anything but ordinary…
