Uganda’s justice system is no stranger to controversy, but the recent admission by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Frances Abodo, that her office has no authority over Court Martial cases is a glaring indictment of the rot within the system. This revelation is not just an excuse for incompetence but a blatant confession that Uganda’s so-called judicial independence is a farce.
The Court Martial, a kangaroo court disguised in military regalia, has long been a weapon of oppression wielded by Museveni’s regime to silence dissent and crush political opponents. From arbitrary arrests to laughable convictions, this institution has been a hallmark of injustice. And now, the DPP, the supposed gatekeeper of justice, has publicly declared her impotence. What kind of justice system allows an institution with no oversight to operate unchecked? The answer lies in the regime’s iron grip on power, which prioritizes control over fairness.
Abodo’s statement reeks of cowardice. “I can’t institute and I can’t take over cases under the Court Martial,” she meekly admitted, as though the DPP’s office is a ceremonial entity with no real power. By staying in her “lane,” as she put it, Abodo has effectively abandoned countless Ugandans to the whims of a brutal military apparatus. Her refusal to challenge this miscarriage of justice is a betrayal of the very citizens her office is supposed to protect.
The DPP’s argument about the subjudice rule and the potential for being misquoted is laughable. Is she suggesting that her silence is a strategy for maintaining integrity? Nonsense. This is nothing more than a calculated move to avoid stepping on the toes of the regime that appointed her. Abodo’s refusal to challenge the Court Martial’s overreach is not about respecting legal boundaries; it’s about self-preservation.
The Court Martial, in its current form, is nothing short of a legalized torture chamber. It operates without accountability, violating fundamental rights under the guise of “national security.” Political activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens have been dragged before this sham tribunal, their fates sealed long before the proceedings even begin. And now, with the DPP washing her hands of any responsibility, the regime’s military enforcers have been handed free rein to terrorize Ugandans without fear of legal repercussions.
Abodo’s inaction is a chilling reminder of the dictatorship Uganda has become. Her silence and submission to the Court Martial’s authority expose her as a pawn in Museveni’s game of suppressing dissent. Justice in Uganda is a charade, and the DPP’s cowardice ensures that the Court Martial will continue to operate as a blunt instrument of state oppression. Ugandans deserve better, but under this regime, better is a distant dream.
Discussion about this post