The government has announced plans to withdraw the UPDF Amendment Bill 2024, currently before the Defense and Internal Affairs committee of Parliament, on Thursday.
This decision was revealed by Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua in an exclusive interview with the Nile Post.
According to Obua, the withdrawal of the bill is necessary to allow the Attorney General to draft a new, comprehensive UPDF bill that addresses the issues raised in the Supreme Court ruling of January 31, 2025.
“The decision to withdraw the UPDF amendment bill is to allow the Attorney General to draft a new comprehensive UPDF bill that will capture the range of issues raised in the Supreme Court ruling,” Obua explained.
The withdrawal of the bill follows a unanimous decision by the NRM Parliamentary caucus, which sat at State House Entebbe last week.
The caucus agreed to withdraw the current bill and support a new one that will be tabled before Parliament.
The Supreme Court ruling, which declared that military courts cannot try civilians, has significant implications for the UPDF and the country’s justice system.
The new bill is expected to address these implications and provide a framework for the UPDF’s operations that is consistent with the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s decision.
As the government prepares to withdraw the current bill and introduce a new one, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the new legislation will address the complex issues surrounding the UPDF’s role in the country’s justice system.
