[allAfrica.com] [Africa_2005] Museveni Defends Court Martial New Vision (Kampala) NEWS November 30, 2005 Posted to the web November 30, 2005 By Alfred Wasike Kampala PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has defended the trial of the Forum for Democratic Change president, Col. Kizza Besigye, in the General Court Martial. "The General Court Martial is good because it reduces our problems by hastening trials of criminals. It is not over-crowded since it deals with soldiers and voluntary gunmen. It is a junior court after which anyone can go to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. It is guided by a judge advocate and credible jurors." Addressing a press conference yesterday, Museveni traced the history of the court martial in Uganda saying, "The armed forces law has evolved four times from 1948, 1964, 1992 and recently in 2005. it is a properly constituted court." "It deals mainly with soldiers and other suspects who are found with illegal weapons, or who abet or aid crime with weapons, terrorists, rebels, Karimojong cattle rustlers and other such criminals. There is nothing wrong with trying Besigye in the court martial. In fact he should go for trial immediately instead of wasting time so that he can prove that the DPP or police are lying about him," a jovial Museveni said. Recalling the "reign of terror" in Kampala in December 2001 to mid 2002 in which civilians were gunned down in several parts of the city, he said, "The problem was that the killers were being arrested, taken to civilian courts and released back to the streets to commit more crimes. The court martial ended that nonsense." On why Besigye was being tried in the court martial, Museveni said, "I would expect you (the media) to demand for a very quick trial, not some of these things I have been hearing. But some of you are misinforming the world that because he is an opposition politician, he is above the law. Even a sitting president in Uganda can be impeached if he commits crimes. Forget that aspirant called Besigye. The legitimate demand is for Besigye to be tried expeditiously in a properly constituted court," he said with reference to the Constitution. Defence minister Amama Mbabazi said Besigye would not suffer from double jeopardy by being tried in the court martial and the High Court. Referring to the 1995 Constitution, Museveni said it is only the DPP who has powers over crimes. He said, "The only time the poor president can come in is after the trial and sentencing. Even then the president does not act on his or her own in deciding that prerogative of mercy. So the way forward is for Besigye to sort out his problems so that he can rejoin the race where I want to beat him again." "The 2005 CHOGM decided that Uganda should host the 2007 Commonwealth summit. Some leaders raised the issue of Besigye, but it was not on the agenda. We had more serious things like trade and terrorism to discuss. I briefed leaders like Blair, Mbeki, Mkapa and others bi-laterally," he said. On the UPC, he said "Mrs. Miria Obote is welcome to join the race. But I saw UPC lying while they were burying Obote. They said all of us were killers. I checked the records and found that in the last number of years we have executed 23 soldiers, sentenced 123 to death and sent 20 others on long jail terms for various offences. I challenge UPC to show me one of their soldiers they disciplined for killing a civilian. I am sure Miria was not involved but her party was deep in it." On the "black mambas" at the High Court, he said, "I cannot apologise for things that I have not yet understood. I have to find out who these animals called mambas are. I have been busy with other things." On his wife Janet's proposed candidature for Ruhaama, he said, "We did not support the idea of her doing that. We passed a resolution to that effect when it came to the CEC. But she has a view. she is angry that our county of Ruhaama has been neglected by MPs. For us, politics is not a family business. But I saw a resolution from leaders in Ntungamo urging her to stand." He said, "Once we go for the 3rd term, my prayer is that we shall launch the East African political Federation. I agreed with my colleagues (Kibaki and Mkapa) that we meet in May next year for this. By 2010 we should have a shared presidency and by 2013, one elected president in East Africa. Once that happens you will see a man who is dying to retire so that even if you bring a bull dozer to refrain that man, I will go to my cows. But if Mrs Obote, Besigye or anyone else wins, I will shake their hand, hand over and help them start."   =============================================================================   Copyright © 2005 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). =============================================================================