United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has urged Uganda to stop prosecuting civilians in military courts, stating it violates international human rights law.
Turk expressed concern over the abduction of opposition leader Kizza Besigye from Nairobi and his forced return to Uganda. Besigye was arraigned in a military court in Kampala the day after his abduction and charged with possession of firearms, a crime punishable by death. Turk appealed to the Ugandan government to end such practices and ensure due process for justice. He called on President Yoweri Museveni’s government to uphold human rights and refrain from military court prosecutions.
“Such abductions of Ugandan opposition leaders and supporters must stop, as must the deeply concerning practice in Uganda of prosecuting civilians in military courts, in contravention of the country’s obligations under international human rights law,” he said.
“The UN Human Rights Committee – which oversees implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – has noted that civilians tried in Uganda’s military courts do not receive the same due process guarantees as those in civilian courts, and has recommended that Uganda remove, without further delay, the jurisdiction of military courts over civilians.”
The abduction of opposition leader Kizza Besigye has raised concerns about Kenya’s role in facilitating the removal of dissidents through unconventional means. The incident has drawn attention to allegations that the country is becoming a haven for such operations. However, despite public outcry, the Kenyan government has downplayed these accusations, expressing confidence in the country’s law enforcement services. The State maintains that the legal and security systems are functioning properly, rejecting claims that they are involved in the forced removal of opposition figures.