President Museveni has appointed Brig Gen Richard Tukachungurwa to head the General Court Martial after it was controversially reconstituted following the Supreme Court landmark ruling, which said military courts lacked judicial competence to hear cases against civilians.
‘In accordance with Section 192, 193 and 195 of the UPDF Act as amended and acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, I have appointed persons below as Head and members of the General Court Martial and Chairperson of Division and Unit Court Martials respectively,’ reads part of President Museveni’s letter addressed to his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who serves as the Chief of Defence Forces.
In the letter dated November 25, 2025, a copy of which was seen by this publication, Brig Gen Tukachungurwa will lead a 10-member panel and two more chairpersons of the Division Court Martial.
Other members of the General Court Martial include; Col. Wankandya Simon Tusah, Col. Asha Patra, Col. Kangwamu Fredrick, Col. Mugisha Raphael, Lt. Col. Igambi Mohammedie Nasser and Maj. Amodoi Samuel Moses.
Others are Maj Emmanuel Arihaihi, Maj Abubaker Nyombi and Maj Denis Chemtai.
The two chairpersons of Division Court Martials are Lt. Col David Drani Epalu – Forth Division and Lt. Col Hassan Mulyanti Yaqoub- One Special Forces Group.
Brig Gen Tukachungurwa replaces Brig Gen Robert Freeman Mugabe, who was appointed in May 2024 and served for one term.
The previous team had 11 lawyers of the 23-member team. Under Sections 197, 198, and 202 of the UPDF Act No. 7 of 2005, the High Command holds the authority to appoint members, reserve members, and staff officers to the General Court Martial (GCM).
The High Command is chaired by Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, President Museveni.
In January, Uganda’s Supreme Court ruled that the prosecution of civilians in military courts, including the General Court Martial, is unconstitutional.
The landmark decision followed a 2021 Constitutional Court ruling that similarly found the provisions allowing military trials for civilians to be unlawful.
The Attorney General confirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the ruling by halting pending civilian trials and determining which civilian courts should take over these cases.
Following the Supreme Court’s 2025 decision, military trials for civilians were effectively banned, prompting the reconstitution of the General Court Martial and other related courts.
The Supreme Court further directed that the General Court Martial be administratively established as a division of the High Court. This division would have jurisdiction over capital criminal cases involving military personnel and, in exceptional circumstances, civilians.
Magistrates within the division would handle offences falling under their respective jurisdictions. However, on May 20, Parliament passed the UPDF (Amendment) Bill, 2025, granting military courts sweeping powers to try civilians under ‘exceptional circumstances’ like possession of military weapons or aiding soldiers in serious crimes.
President Museveni on June 16 signed into law the controversial Act, to resume charging civilians in military courts.
The law introduces a structured military court system Unit, Division, and General Court Martial with legally qualified chairs and provides appeal routes up to the civilian Court of Appeal. It also defines ‘exceptional circumstances’ to include illegal possession of military equipment, uniforms, ammunition, or accompanying troops on missions.
Despite criticism from the public and Opposition leaders who argued that the law targets specific individuals and was not brought in good faith, President Museveni waved off the pleas and signed it, making it a law.
Whereas some Bills passed by Parliament spend months and years before the President signs them, this particular one spent about 26 days, with Opposition leaders saying its processing was hurried, but was expected.
Controversial law
The UPDF (Amendment) Bill, 2025, came into force with an unknown number of civilians stuck in the army court, with their fate uncertain.
The National Unity Platform (NUP) party and other citizens have since petitioned the Constitutional Court challenging Act, which they say flagrantly defies the Supreme Court judgment and entrenches the trial of civilians in military courts.
They accuse Parliament of rushing the legislation and reintroducing provisions the Supreme Court had already declared unconstitutional in Attorney General vs Hon. Michael Kabaziguruka (2025).