UN Rights Chief Urges Uganda to End Civilian Trials in Military Courts Following Besigye’s Abduction

 In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

• UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk urges Uganda to stop prosecuting civilians in military courts, citing human rights violations.

• Turk condemns the abduction of opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his trial in a military court on firearms charges.

Uganda's opposition leader Kizza Besigye

United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has urged Uganda to cease prosecuting civilians in military courts, stating that such actions violate international human rights laws. 

In a statement, Turk expressed concern over the abduction of opposition leader Kizza Besigye from Nairobi and his forcible return to Uganda.

Besigye was reportedly taken to a military court in Kampala a day after his abduction, where he was charged with possession of firearms—a crime that carries the death penalty. 

Turk criticized the Ugandan government for such actions, calling them a breach of human rights practices and urging authorities to honor international standards.

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"These 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," Turk emphasized.

He also highlighted that the UN Human Rights Committee has raised concerns about Uganda’s military courts, noting that civilians tried there do not receive the same due process guarantees as in civilian courts. 

The committee has recommended that Uganda remove military court jurisdiction over civilians without delay.

Besigye's case has reignited scrutiny of Kenya's role in regional dissident issues, with critics accusing the country of enabling such abductions. 

However, the Kenyan government has dismissed these claims, asserting confidence in its law enforcement agencies.