On January 7, 2025, during a court session, soldiers physically prevented Eron Kiiza from entering the military court’s section for defendants’ lawyers when his client, an opposition politician, was arraigned. Eron Kiiza responded by shouting and banging on the courtroom barricade. Soldiers assaulted him while removing him from the courtroom, before arresting and placing him in the dock alongside his client. The court later convicted him of “contempt of court” and sentenced him to nine months imprisonment at Kitalya prison without a fair trial. Ugandan authorities must stop trying civilians in military courts, stop targeting lawyers simply for doing their job, and immediately release Eron Kiiza.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: July 30, 2025
Dear President Museveni,
I am writing to express grave concern about the assault, arbitrary detention, conviction, and nine-month sentencing of human rights lawyer, Eron Kiiza, solely for carrying out his professional duties.
On the morning of January 7, 2025, during a hearing for his client, soldiers physically prevented Eron Kiiza from entering the military court’s section for defense lawyers. He responded by shouting and banging on the courtroom barricade. Soldiers then punched Eron Kiiza in the face, head, and body while removing him from the courtroom. They then arrested him and placed him in the dock alongside his client. Only a few hours later, and without even reading the charges or hearing arguments, the General Court-Martial (a military court) convicted him of “contempt of court” and sentenced him to nine months imprisonment. His lawyers have appealed his conviction. Eron Kiiza told his lawyers that prior to being brought to prison, he was tortured by military personnel.
Eron Kiiza had publicly opposed military courts trying civilians, stating rightly that the practice is unconstitutional and contravenes courts decisions in Uganda.
I urge you to immediately release Eron Kiiza and ensure a prompt and impartial investigation is carried out pertaining to allegations of torture and other ill-treatment.
Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
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