By Our Reporter
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday appointed Brig Gen Richard Tukachungurwa as the new Chairperson of the General Court Martial (GCM), following a reconstitution of military courts in the wake of a landmark Supreme Court ruling that barred the trial of civilians before military tribunals.
The appointment was communicated in a letter dated November 25, 2025, addressed to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in which the President invoked Sections 192, 193 and 195 of the amended UPDF Act.
“In accordance with Section 192, 193 and 195 of the UPDF Act as amended and acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, I have appointed persons below as Head and members of the General Court Martial and Chairperson of Division and Unit Court Martials respectively,” the President wrote.
New Court Martial Lineup
Brig Gen Tukachungurwa will head a 10-member panel and oversee two additional Division Court Martial chairpersons. The newly appointed GCM members are:
- Col Wankandya Simon Tusah
- Col Asha Patra
- Col Kangwamu Fredrick
- Col Mugisha Raphael
- Lt Col Igambi Mohammedie Nasser
- Maj Amodoi Samuel Moses
- Maj Emmanuel Arihaihi
- Maj Abubaker Nyombi
- Maj Denis Chemtai
The appointed Division Court Martial chairpersons are:
- Lt Col David Drani Epalu – Fourth Division
- Lt Col Hassan Mulyanti Yaqoub – One Special Forces Group
Brig Gen Tukachungurwa replaces Brig Gen Robert Freeman Mugabe, who served one term after his appointment in May 2024.
Under Sections 197, 198, and 202 of the UPDF Act No. 7 of 2005, the UPDF High Command—chaired by the Commander-in-Chief, President Museveni—holds authority to appoint members and reserve members of the General Court Martial.
Background: Supreme Court Ruling Reshapes Military Justice
The shake-up follows a January 2025 Supreme Court ruling that declared the trial of civilians in military courts unconstitutional. The decision affirmed a 2021 Constitutional Court ruling that had similarly faulted legal provisions that placed civilians under military jurisdiction.
Following the ruling, the Attorney General assured the public that government would implement the decision, suspend ongoing military trials of civilians, and reassign cases to appropriate civilian courts.
The Supreme Court further directed that the General Court Martial be administratively established as a division of the High Court, with jurisdiction strictly over capital criminal cases involving military personnel and only in exceptional situations, civilians.
However, on May 20, 2025, Parliament passed the UPDF (Amendment) Bill, 2025, granting military courts broad powers to try civilians again under what it termed “exceptional circumstances.” These include:
- Illegal possession of military weapons, equipment, uniforms, or ammunition
- Assisting soldiers in serious crimes
- Accompanying troops on operational missions
Despite public criticism and opposition protests, President Museveni signed the Bill into law on June 16, 2025, barely 26 days after its passage an unusually fast turnaround for a contentious piece of legislation.
The Act establishes a tiered military court system Unit, Division, and General Court Martial with legally qualified chairpersons and an appeal system that extends to the civilian Court of Appeal.
Opposition politicians argued that the law was “tailor-made” to target specific individuals and undermines the Supreme Court’s authority.
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