The Democratic Party (DP) Spokesperson and President of the Uganda Young Democrats, Ismail Kirya, has said that the purpose of the General Court Martial should only be to enforce discipline in the military.
Kirya, who was addressing journalists at the party’s weekly presser held at the party’s headquarters on Balintuma Road in Kampala on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, explained that the jurisdiction of the military courts is limited to the maintenance of military discipline, and that is why, as a matter of practice, their decisions are not reviewable by any other courts.
“We insist that the purpose of the General Court Martial is to enforce discipline in the military, and military jurisdiction of military courts ends when a soldier is discharged,” he said.
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He said this in reference to the recent arrest from Kenya and charging Colonel (Rtd) Dr. Kizza Kifefe Besigye in the General Court Martial.
The Ugandan military court charged Besigye and his ally Haji Obeid Lutale with possessing arms in Kenya, Greece, and Switzerland.
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When he was brought before the general court martial chaired by Brig Gen Freeman Mugabe, the prosecution stated that Besigye and Haji Obied Lutale were on November 16, 2024, while at Riverside Apartments in Nairobi, Kenya, found in unlawful possession of two pistols and eight rounds of ammunition, which are ordinarily the monopoly of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The duo was remanded to Luzira Prison until December 2, 2024, when they will be returned to court for mention of their case.
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However, Kirya said that even if there may be exceptions to this rule, especially in times of war, no such exception applies in this case.
“Colonel Kizza Besigye, who was discharged from the military in the year 2000, should be tried in the civilian courts. DP condemns these arrests and renditions that happen on foreign land, followed by detention and arraignment in military courts,” he noted.
He added that DP is also concerned with the violation of the territorial integrity of Kenya since it has denied being involved.
“As the Democratic Party, we are concerned with the violation of the territorial integrity of Kenya, as this violates mutual trust. However, Kenya’s Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Korir Singoei, told the local media that Kenya was not involved in the incident,” Kirya said.
In July 2024, Kenyan authorities arrested 36 members of Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party. They were deported to Uganda, where they were indicted on charges related to terrorism.
