Recently, Ssewungu gave a strong warning to other MPs about the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill, 2025. This bill is very controversial because it wants to give more power to military courts, including the power to try civilians.
Ssewungu told other MPs to be careful. He said if they support this bill, they could lose their seats in the next elections.
“The voters are watching,” he said.
“If you support this bill, the people will vote you out because this bill is not good for Uganda.”
The bill is being discussed in Parliament, but many people think it is being rushed without enough talks with the public.
The bill will allow military courts to try civilians for crimes, which is not how things usually work in Uganda. Usually, civilians are tried in civilian courts, and military courts only deal with soldiers and military issues.
Ssewungu said this is a big mistake. “This is not just a small law. It will change how justice works in Uganda,” he said.
“We should not allow the military to try civilians. That is against democracy and our laws.”
He explained that Uganda already has good laws in the Penal Code that deal with security and crimes. So, there is no need to give military courts this extra power.
“Why should civilians go to military courts? That is not fair and not right,” he added.
The MP also said some members of the ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), do not like the bill but are scared to speak out.
“I have talked to some NRM MPs in private. They told me they do not support this bill but are afraid to say it publicly because of pressure from their party leaders,” Ssewungu said.
“This shows how fear controls some MPs instead of them working for the people.”
Ssewungu called on all MPs to think about their work.
“We are here to represent the people, not to please the president or any other person. We must make laws that protect our democracy and human rights,” he said.
He gave an example to show how the government is not consistent. There is a man called Jamil Mukulu, who is a terror suspect. He is being tried in a civilian court.
But if civilians are supposed to be tried in military courts, why is Jamil Mukulu in a civilian court? “This shows that this bill is not logical,” Ssewungu said.
He also criticized some MPs for not understanding the laws they pass. He said one MP even confused IPOD (Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue) with the Political Parties Act.
“We should know what we are passing,” he said.
“We cannot make laws in confusion.”
Ssewungu warned that if MPs support this wrong bill, it will hurt their political future.
“Most MPs who pass bad laws lose their seats in the next elections. People remember what you do in Parliament,” he said.
“Even the president will not help them win again.”
If the bill is passed, Ssewungu said the opposition is ready to take the matter to court.
“We will fight this bill because it is not good for our country,” he added.
In the end, Ssewungu called for leaders who listen to the people and follow the law.
“We don’t need leaders who only want to please the president. We need leaders who care about democracy, justice, and the rights of all Ugandans,” he said.
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