The General Court Martial has resumed operations after more than a year- long suspension following a Supreme Court ruling that it was operating without legal backing.
On Thursday, the Brig Gen Richard Tukachungurwa led court martial resumed hearing of cases with a murder case involving a National Forestry Authority (NFA) enforcement officer and 11 civilians.
According to the prosecution, Staff Sergeant Jotham Karamuzi attached to the NFA in the Greater Masaka region and 11 civilians are accused of kidnapping, aggravated robbery and the murder of Geoffrey Juma Munyandizi on December 1st, in Kyanamukaaka, Masaka District.
The accused have denied the murder charges read to them.
On January 31, 2025, the Supreme Court directed the halting of trials, ordered reforms, and further directed that its members are appointed following a recommendation from the Judicial Service Commission.
In the directive, the Supreme Court ruled that civilians could no longer be tried in the military courts which it rendered inactive and continuing to do so would be unconstitutional.
However, President Yoweri Museveni last year on November 25, under the UPDF Act and on advice of the Judicial Service Commission appointed a new nine member court martial led by Brig Gen Richard Tukacungurwa, who replaced Brig. Gen. Robert Freeman Mugabe, who served as Chairperson of the General Court Martial for three terms.
The new board was sworn in early January in a function officiated over by the Principal Judge Jane Frances Abodo, Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka, and several other judicial officers at the Supreme Court in Kampala, marking the first time that the UPDF’s Court Martial members are being sworn in under the Judiciary’s supervision.
However, the Brig. Tukachungurwa led court martial in the restructured court, has been reduced to a three-member panel and barred from trying civilians or non-military offenses.
