The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Frances Abodo, has rejected proposals from some Members of Parliament (MPs) to consider taking over cases of civilians charged before the General Court Martial.
While appearing before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee to present the 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper for the Directorate of Public Prosecution, Abodo stated that the Constitution prohibits her from intervening in proceedings at the Court Martial.
“I can’t institute or take over cases under the Court Martial. We have reviewed this, and I just want to stay in my lane. Please forgive me, but I cannot comment on this case, as it is currently before the Supreme Court. Any comment I make might result in misquotation, and the subjudice rule would apply,” Abodo said.
Abodo's comments came in response to a query from Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa, who had asked the DPP to consider taking over cases involving civilians charged before the Court Martial. Abodo firmly rejected the suggestion, citing Article 120 of the Constitution, which outlines the duties of the DPP.
Basalirwa, however, expressed a differing interpretation of Article 120. “While the Constitution stipulates that the DPP can institute cases in all courts except the Court Martial, we believe that the Constitution permits the DPP to take over and discontinue proceedings at the Court Martial. We invited her to reconsider this provision and see whether her office can intervene in cases involving civilians,” Basalirwa said.
This request comes at a time when former presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obedi Kamulegeya, are facing treason and terrorism charges in the General Court Martial. Dr. Besigye and Kamulegeya are also charged with unlawful possession of firearms at Riverside Apartments in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as allegedly holding meetings in Greece and Switzerland with the intent to undermine the security of the Ugandan army.
The two men were reportedly abducted in November while in Nairobi, where they had attended a book launch hosted by Kenyan opposition politician and lawyer Martha Karua. Karua is currently in Uganda, leading a team of 50 lawyers defending Dr. Besigye and Hajj Kamulegeya.
