Najjanankumbi, Kampala – Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has come out to reject the ongoing controversial UPDF Amendment Bill 2025, branding it as unconstitutional, unjust, and a direct assault on Uganda’s civilian justice system.
In a statement issued today from their headquarters in Najjanankumbi, FDC Working Committee resolved to reject the bill in its entirety urging all its Members of Parliament to vote against it when tabled.
“This bill must be opposed. It tramples on constitutional values and the rights of Ugandans,” the party asserted in a resolution signed off this morning.
The UPDF Amendment Bill 2025 seeks, among other things to expand the jurisdiction of military courts allowing them to try civilians for offenses deemed to affect national security. But the FDC is having none of it.
Citing the Supreme Court ruling, FDC emphasized two core constitutional violations including;
Military courts were never meant for civilians. They were established strictly to discipline active-duty personnel within the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The General Court Martial lacks qualified judicial officers to handle civilian legal matters meaning any such trial risks being fundamentally flawed, biased and unjust.
FDC’s statement lands at a time when opposition figures, journalists and activists have repeatedly accused the state of weaponizing military courts to silence dissent and bypass civilian judicial safeguards.
In recent years, a growing number of civilians particularly those linked to opposition parties like NUP and FDC have found themselves before the Court Martial facing charges ranging from unlawful possession of firearms to terrorism which critics say is a legal backdoor into repression, dressed in the guise of national security.
With the bill looming, FDC has directed all its parliamentary members to stand firmly in defense of the constitution and the rights of Ugandans.
“This is not about politics. It’s about principle,” reads the party’s statement. “Uganda’s constitution does not allow military justice to extend its tentacles into civilian life.”
While the government is yet to issue a formal response, insiders suggest the bill could still proceed to Parliament backed by the ruling NRM majority, a move likely to spark intense protest both in and outside the House.
Also Read: Release Political Prisoners or Forget Dialogue Joel Ssenyonyi Slams NRM During Opposition Caucus Address
