A Ugandan court martial’s conviction of lawyer Eron Kiiza has sparked controversy, with claims that the decision was premeditated.
“Eron Kiiza’s fate was already sealed by the time he arrived at the General Military Court Martial,” said Wadada Rogers, a commentator on political and legal issues.
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Mr Wadada alleged that the court’s decision was a deliberate attempt to buy time for the amendment of the defective charge sheet in the Lutale-Besigye case.
“By the time Eron Kiiza arrived at the General Military Court Martial, his fate was already sealed. His arrival into court and standing up for his rights to sit where he wanted was the much anticipated moment for Freeman Mugabe to implement his instructions,” Mr Rogers added.
The court martial found Mr Kiiza guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to nine months in prison.
Mr Rogers described the sentence as “excessive, gross, emotional, an abuse of court process, a systematic overreach and disproportionate.”
He also questioned the court’s jurisdiction, citing Article 28(12) of the Ugandan constitution, which states that no person shall be convicted of a criminal offence unless the offence is defined and the penalty for it prescribed by law.
The incident has raised concerns about the independence and impartiality of Uganda’s judiciary.
