Time's up in Kampala

Isaac Ssemakadde, president of the Uganda Law Society, has written this important op-ed in the Kampala Observer. Excerpt:

Forty-two (42) Justices in the Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court of Uganda and the Supreme Court of Uganda have spent 25 years examining whether section 119(1)(g)(h) of the UPDF Act is inconsistent with Articles 28(1), 126(1), and 210 of the Constitution—in simple terms, whether the trial of civilians in military courts is unconstitutional.

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Due to the Supreme court’s delay in delivering the Kabaziguruka judgment, our Supreme court is now perceived as an enabler of military repression of political opponents, stifling dissent and perpetuating a culture of fear.

For the sake of vulnerable communities like those in Karamoja at risk of continued military repression and human rights abuses, the Supreme court of Uganda must act with urgency and humanity to deliver the judgment in AG v. Michael Kabaziguruka.

It is therefore crucial that our meeting with the chief justice should result in a judgment date, to arrest public anger and curb long-term harm to our judiciary. We are aware that all appellate judges are in retreat in Mbarara from January 13-17, and from February 3-7 they will attend another calendar retreat known as the Judges’ Annual Conference.