Amnesty International has called on Ugandan authorities to reverse a military tribunal’s decision and release lawyer Eron Kiiza, who was recently convicted of contempt of court without a trial. Kiiza, who attempted to represent opposition leader Kizza Besigye, was reportedly denied access to the area reserved for lawyers during a court hearing and subsequently arrested after allegedly shouting at the court martial. He received a nine-month prison sentence following the tribunal’s verdict, triggering widespread criticism from activists and human rights organizations. Amnesty International’s full statement can be found here.
The conviction has sparked a debate over its compliance with Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Uganda is a signatory. The article guarantees the right to a fair trial, a protocol seemingly breached in Kiiza’s case. Kiiza, a notable human rights and environmental lawyer, has a history of advocacy work, including cases involving prominent figures such as human rights activist Nicholas Opiyo.
This incident adds to a pattern of contentious political dynamics in Uganda. In November 2024, Besigye was forcibly removed from Kenya and faced charges in a Ugandan military tribunal for unlawful possession of firearms, alongside fellow opposition politician Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya. Both have consistently challenged the legitimacy of such proceedings.
Elections in Uganda have been marred by allegations of illegitimacy, with President Yoweri Museveni’s administration, which has ruled since 1986, frequently accused of oppressing opposition voices through intimidation, harassment, and potentially unfounded criminal charges. These circumstances form a concerning backdrop to the recent judicial actions against Eron Kiiza and Kizza Besigye. Further analysis of Uganda’s political and civil rights environment can be found here.
For more details about Eron Kiiza’s case and the response from various advocacy groups, you may refer to the original report by JURIST.