Why are civilians being tried in Uganda’s military courts?

Last week the Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, appeared before a military court in Kampala, following his arrest in Kenya. His wife said he’d been abducted and driven overnight across the border into Uganda.

He denied charges including the illegal possession of firearms and negotiating to buy arms abroad, and objected to being tried in a court martial, saying that if there were any charges against him, he should be tried in a civilian court.

But Dr Besigye’s case is far from unique.

Over the decades hundreds of civilians have been tried in Uganda's military courts, despite Uganda’s Constitutional Court ruling against the practice. So why does it continue?

For Africa Daily Alan Kasujja speaks to director of Public Information for Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces, Brigadier Felix Kulayigye, and with human rights lawyer Agather Athuhair who has campaigned against the use of the courts for civilians.