By Businge Emmanuel,
Recently, the Daily Monitor newspaper ran a headline, “Goodbye Rule of Law,” following the amendment of the UPDF Act, which now allows civilians to be tried in the General Court Martial under exceptional circumstances. However, the legal mandate for Members of Parliament to make laws, including amendments as enshrined in the 1995 Constitution makes such a headline misleading. It also reveals the double standards at play, especially when the opposition’s attempt to defeat justice in the case of Eddy Mutwe and his co-accused is left unquestioned.
The Free Eddy Mutwe campaign effectively turns the opposition into judge, jury, and prosecutor in a criminal matter. According to them, the accused is innocent despite the criminal charges brought against him.
At a burial in Lwengo District in Greater Masaka, Eddy Mutwe and others allegedly assaulted individuals and maliciously damaged property. These are offenses clearly defined under the Penal Code Act, with such actions attracting criminal liability and punitive consequences.
Surprisingly, even though these acts were allegedly committed in full view of the public, the opposition is portraying their arrest as political persecution entirely disregarding the pursuit of justice for the victims. Even more concerning is the silence of institutions and individuals who otherwise position themselves as defenders of the rule of law, such as the Daily Monitor. There is no greater disregard for the rule of law than attempts to evade justice, which is precisely what the Free Eddy Mutwe campaign seems to embody.
In essence, the insinuation is that Eddy Mutwe and others should be exonerated solely based on their political affiliation, rather than being held criminally accountable for their actions. Although the opposition has consistently presented itself as an advocate of the rule of law, this case has both exposed their hypocrisy and proven that their concern is more about politics than justice. If they genuinely believed in the rule of law, they would be calling for a free and fair trial not demanding an exemption from due process. After all, justice is not a one-sided coin.
To foreign diplomats commenting on the matter based solely on social media posts: criminal procedure is not a platform for political activism but a matter of judicial process based on facts and evidence, as stipulated in the laws of Uganda.
Justice for the Victims of Eddy Mutwe and Co—Let the Rule of Law Reign.
Businge Emmanuel, DRCC–Fortportal city busingeemanuel@gmail.com