A coalition of human rights groups and lawyers is urging the High Court of Uganda to guarantee bail for civilians whose cases were transferred from the General Court Martial.
Following a Supreme Court ruling that civilians are not subject to military jurisdiction, many individuals, including Dr. Kizza Besigye, remain in prolonged detention.
In a letter to the High Court, over 25 lawyers highlighted a “procedural purgatory” where detainees cannot access bail or trial in civilian courts.
Signatories, including Peter Walubiri, stated that it is “unacceptable” for prominent figures to be held for years without bail despite the Supreme Court’s clear directive.
The groups are pushing the court to formalize legal precedents and ensure all judges and registrars follow the new guidance to uphold the constitutional rights of detainees.
