Troubled Nakawa Division Member of Parliament Micheal Kabaziguruka has petitioned the Constitutional Court challenging the existence of the Court Martial.
The legislator who is currently facing a series of treason charges before the same Makindye-based court, states that military courts are unconstitutionally established and should be expunged.
He recently regained his temporary freedom after being incarcerated for about four months, and argues that military courts are merely tribunals set up for purposes of disciplining errant military officials and not courts of law within the meaning of the Constitution.
Through his lawyers of Lukwago and Company Advocates, Kabaziguruka now wants the powers of the military court trimmed to be limited to only disciplining soldiers rather than charging them (soldiers) and civilians with any other offences.
Further in his petition, Kabaziguruka faults the 6th Parliament for having allegedly overstepped their mandate and powers by creating Section 197 of the UPDF Act that establishes the General Court Martial other than a mere tribunal to instill discipline among UPDF soldiers.
The other prayers to court are to order for his discharge and that of other persons whom he says are wrongly tried before the General Court Martial.
MP Kabaziguruka is charged alongside 20 UPDF officers for allegedly contriving to infiltrate the security forces with a plot to over throw President Museveni's government.
The challenging of the military court by Kabaziguruka comes barely two weeks before his grand trial by the same court is set to start on December 6th.
