MUSEVENI ADOPTED TRIAL OF CIVILIANS IN MILITARY COURTS FROM THE IDI AMIN REGIME

 

By CHANGE OF GUARDS

When Idi Amin took power in 1971, he suspended the Constitution and dissolved parliament before leading a military government that ruled by decrees. Throughout his reign, he passed a total of 30 Decrees and among them the Trial by Military Tribunals Decree of January 12, 1973. Civilians were to be tried in military courts for those offences like treason and terrorism which it was deemed could not be expeditiously executed with maximum precision in civilian courts. It was also argued that the move would help to curb the rampant criminality in the country. A notorious Kampala City armed robber, Badru Ssemakula was the first victim when he was sentenced and killed by firing squad at the Clock Tower.

The decree came at a time the country was grappling with a wave of assassinations and kidnaps orchestrated by exiles whose aim was to tarnish the image of the Idi Amin government. In September 1972, the security forces had repulsed an open invasion from Tanzania by Ugandan exiles led by the likes of Tito Okello, Oyite Ojok and Museveni. Following the humiliating defeat, Museveni had resorted to doubling his efforts in infiltration of his terror squads into Uganda. Around December 1972, the security forces attacked and dispersed his guerrilla training camp in Busoga. Museveni narrowly escaped capture in Mbale but consequently 11 coordinators of his terrorism cells were arrested. These were; Tom Masaba and Sebastiano Namwindi from Mbale, William Nkooko from Busoga, James Karuhanga from Mbarara, Joseph Bitwiire, James Karambuzi and David Tusingwire from Kabaale, Pherez Kasoro and Abwooli Malibo from Tooro.

They were afforded a lengthy trial by the military tribunal chaired by Col. Ozoo, convicted and sentenced to death by firing squad. On February 10, 1973, each of the convicts was publicly executed by firing squad in their respective home districts. A climate of fear engulfed the country but relative peace was realized as Museveni's terrorism was contained until 1979. In 1975 another decree, dubbed Economic Crimes Tribunals Decree, was promulgated to try civilians in a military court for offences like murder by explosives, robbery, rape, kidnappings and treason. In 1977, security forces nabbed Obote's group who were tried by the military tribunal chaired by Col. Juma Ali Butabika and sentenced to death by firing squad. The group of 12 that comprised among others, Abudalla Onyuru (Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Y Y Okot (Chief Inspector of Schools), Ben Ongom, Lt. Ben Ogwang, E N Mutabazi, John Leji Olobo, Eliasi Okidi Menya, Garisom Onono, Peter Odupa, Daniel Nsereko, Peter Otoa and John Kabandize (from Uganda Prisons) were publicly executed at the Clock Tower in Kampala. This group was allegedly linked to the Archbishop Janan Luwum

After the overthrow of the Idi Amin regime, the trial of civilians in military courts was abolished. Even the Obote II regime (1981 - 1985) that was faced with Museveni's armed rebellion did not subject captured rebels and their collaborators to trial by military courts. It was not until Museveni had captured power in 1986 that the trial of civilians in military courts resumed. Like Idi Amin, Museveni uses military courts to deal with political dissent, more especially where either the charges are concocted or victims have been badly tortured. He has repeatedly sent armed Commandos to raid courts of law to reverse court decisions. He has ignored all court pronouncements on the illegality of trying civilians in military courts. His military courts are a tool of political persecution and a means to promote his scare factor.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM