Senior officers overseeing Uganda’s military justice system have been urged to uphold fairness, impartiality, and professionalism to strengthen discipline within the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF).
The call was made by the Joint Staff Training and Doctrine, Brigadier General Wycliff Keita, while opening an eight-day Legal Services Induction Training at the Junior Staff College in Jinja. The training brings together chairpersons of the Court Martial and military prosecutors.
“Those entrusted with administering military justice must at all times remain fair, impartial and just. Your decisions should be guided by the evidence before court and the law, not personal interest or external influence,” Brig Gen Keita said.
He described the induction as timely, noting that it comes in the wake of a Supreme Court decision that introduced new standards for Uganda’s military court system. Brig Gen Keita said court chairpersons and prosecutors play a critical role in protecting the credibility of military justice and sustaining public confidence in the UPDF.
“The military justice system exists to maintain discipline and order in the UPDF and to ensure our soldiers remain law-abiding,” he said.
He urged participants to apply the skills and knowledge gained from the training in their daily duties to ensure justice is administered consistently and professionally.
The Commandant of the Legal Training Centre, Colonel Susan Mwanga, said the course was designed to refresh participants on legal procedures governing the administration of justice in military courts.
“This course is intended to remind you of the correct legal processes and to strengthen your capacity to dispense justice professionally,” Col Mwanga said.
The induction training was attended by the Joint Staff Legal Services, Brigadier General Moses Wandera, along with senior and junior officers of the Junior Staff College, as well as chairpersons and military prosecutors serving on the Court Martial.