Parliament on Tuesday passed the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after a heated session that saw several opposition MPs voice strong objections to key clauses in the legislation.
Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko opposed Clause 38, arguing it would place the General Court Martial on equal footing with the High Court, which he described as unconstitutional.
“The General Court Martial must remain subordinate to the High Court,” he insisted. The motion was put to a vote and defeated.
Nsereko also called for the removal of Clause 30, which allows civilians to be tried in military courts. “This undermines civil liberties and fair trial standards,” he said. Parliament voted to retain the clause.
Erute South MP Jonathan Odur raised objections to the continued inclusion of historical figures’ names in the Bill, arguing that Uganda has “moved on from the 1986 scenario.”
He also proposed renaming the Special Forces Command to simply “Special Forces” to match the format used for other service branches. Both motions were defeated.
MP Okot Moses joined the opposition, citing a lack of sufficient public consultation and warning that military courts were not impartial and could violate principles of natural justice.
However, State Minister for Defence, Owang Peter delivered a passionate defence of the Bill, recounting his traumatic experiences during attacks by Karimojong warriors. He said the reforms would enhance military discipline and efficiency.
Speaker Anita Among adjourned the House sine die after the Bill was passed with majority support