RFK Human Rights condemns the vicious assault and summary conviction of human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza by a military court martial in Uganda. Mr. Kiiza, who represents opposition leader and former presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye in a politically motivated case before the court-martial, was sentenced to 9 months in prison for contempt of court. We strongly urge the Ugandan government to quash the sentence, release Mr Kiiza from detention, and desist from prosecuting civilians before military tribunals. 

Mr. Kiiza’s conviction is in reprisal for protesting Ugandan military officials’ decision to deny him access to the defense bar during the court proceedings on January 7, 2025. Earlier the same day, he and other lawyers were prevented from entering the court’s premises and only granted access after the proceedings had commenced. 

The video recording of the court proceedings showed that military officers hit Mr. Kiiza and shoved him into the dock before violently whisking him away. He was detained in an undisclosed location and returned to the court, where he was convicted and sentenced without a trial. Reports indicate that officers of the Ugandan military tortured Mr. Kiiza while he was detained before the conviction. Colleagues of Mr. Kizza, who visited him, have confirmed that he sustained injuries to his knees, knuckles, and head. Mr. Kiiza also complained of generalized body pains and a broken finger. 

Mr Kiiza’s case is emblematic of Uganda’s human rights situation. Attacks on human rights defenders and other critical voices are a long-standing challenge that has only worsened in recent times, especially as general elections approach. Mr. Kiiza’s case highlights Uganda’s misuse of military courts to prosecute civilians in order to keep them out of the civil judicial system. An issue being litigated before the Supreme Court of Uganda in the Attorney General v Michael Kabaziguruka case.

Uganda has binding legal obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, to protect the rights of Ugandans to protest, the right to freedom of expression, and access to justice. These rights are equally protected under the Ugandan Constitution. The  UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers provides that lawyers must be able to perform their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment, improper interference, or other sanctions. Principle 19 forbids any court from refusing to recognize the right of a lawyer to appear before it for his or her client without a proper disbarment procedure. 

The Ugandan authorities must immediately put a stop to these human rights abuses and breaches of international law, release Mr. Kiiza from detention, and dismiss the charges of contempt against him. We also urge the Ugandan Supreme Court to make a determination in the Attorney General v Michael Kabaziguruka case that aligns with international human rights law.