Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT, URN & PARLIAMENT MEDIA | Parliament sits today for the second reading of The Political Parties and Organisations (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2025. HERE BELOW are LIVE UPDATES 🟧 Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi has led a walkout …
Read More »Return of military court martial
Why does Museveni want this law badly? COVER STORY | THE INDEPENDENT | Three months after the Uganda Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for the General Court Martial to try civilians, the government on May 14 introduced a Bill in parliament to reverse that decision. The Minister …
Read More »Joan Kagezi case: UPDF deserter convicted, sentenced to 35 years in jail for murder
Kisekka was convicted on Monday following his own guilty plea to the charge of murder, under a plea bargain agreement with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The state was represented by Assistant DPP Thomas Jatiko and Chief State Attorney Jacqueline Okui. Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | …
Read More »Lt Gen Muhanga To UPDF in South Sudan: Be ready for combat
KAMPALA, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | The Commander of the UPDF Land Forces, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, has called on Ugandan troops deployed in South Sudan to maintain peak combat readiness and uphold strict discipline at all times. “As forces on mission, you must uphold unwavering discipline and maintain peak …
Read More »UPDF amendment bill seeks to reintroduce trial of civilians in military courts
KAMPALA, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | On Tuesday, the Minister of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs, Jacob Oboth Oboth, introduced to Parliament a UPDF Amendment Bill aimed at, among other things, reintroducing provisions that allow military courts to try civilians—individuals otherwise not subject to military law. According to Oboth, the 144-page …
Read More »COMMENT: Uganda’s Defence Bill 2025 risks militarizing justice and violating civil rights
COMMENT | REGINA ASINDE | The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2025 tabled in parliament today has triggered serious concerns among human rights defenders and constitutional law experts. While the bill purports to streamline military administration and align structures with evolving defence needs, it dangerously extends military court jurisdiction …
Read More »Centurion Owor arrested for defrauding youth in Tororo with fake UPDF recruitment
Tororo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Tororo police is holding Centurion Owor, who has been accused of deceiving many young people in the district with a promise to have them recruited into the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Owor allegedly promised to help them join the army but instead took their …
Read More »COMMENT: New UPDF bill does not seem like compliance with Supreme Court ruling
COMMENT | Nicholas Opiyo | The UPDF (Amendment) Bill, 2025 will be tabled in the Ugandan parliament tomorrow by Oboth Oboth, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs. It is 143 pages long with 84 clauses – by all means a major overhaul of the UPDF Act. On top of most …
Read More »UPDF to retire 58-year-old Lt Gen Elwelu
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu, has welcomed the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) leadership’s decision to send him for early retirement. Lt Gen Elwelu is among the 1300 top, middle and lower military career personnel set to …
Read More »President Museveni calls on the UPDF to protect Uganda’s democracy
CIC Orders UPDF to deal with political intimidators Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has directed the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to deal with any political intimidators. Museveni, who chaired UPDF High Command and Defence Council at Entebbe State House on Wedensday and Thursday, said UPDF …
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