The Role Of Military Courts In The Administration Of Justice. A Case Study Of Makindye Division In Uganda

TABLE OF CONTENT

DECLARATION ................................................................................................. i

APPROVAL ...................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION ................................................................................................. iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................... iv

TABLE OF CONTENT .... ············· ..................................................................... V

CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................... 1

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1

1.0 Introduction .............................................................................................. 1

1. 1 Background .............................................................................................. 1

1.2 Statement of the problem: ......................................................................... 4

1.3 Purpose of the study ................................................................................. 5

1.4 Objective of the study ................................................................................ 5

1.4.1 General Objective ................................................................................... 5

1.4.2 Specific objectives .................................................................................. 6

1.5 Scope of the study ..................................................................................... 6

1.5.1 Subject matter ....................................................................................... 6

1.6.2 Geographical scope ................................................................................ 6

1.6.3 Time scope ............................................................................................. 6

1.7 Justification of the study ........................................................................... 6

1.8 Literature Review ...................................................................................... 7

1.8.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 7

1.8.2 Relationship of the military/ Army with the Public ................................. 8

V

1.8.3 The new age of justice administration and the emergence of the NRM

government .... ························:······································································ 13

1.8.4 Field court martial ............................................................................... 14

1.8.5 General court martial ........................................................................... 14

1.8.6 Court Martial Appeal Court .................................................................. 15

1.8.7 The legal status of military courts ......................................................... 15

1. 9 Methodology-............................................................................................ 15

1.9.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 15

1. 9 .2 Research design ................................................................................... 15

1.9.3 Population study .................................................................................. 16

1.9.4 Sampling procedures ............................................................................ 16

1. 9.5 Simple random sampling ...................................................................... 16

1.9.6 Stratified sampling ............................................................................... 16

1.9.7 Sample size .......................................................................................... 16

1. 9 .8 Tools of data collection ......................................................................... 1 7

1. 9. 9 Questionnaire ...................................................................................... 1 7

1.9.10 Interviews .......................................................................................... 17

1. 9. 11 Data processing and analysis ............................................................. 1 7

1.9.12 Limitation of study ............................................................................. 17

CHAPTER TWO ...................................................................................... 18

LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAME WORK ........................................... 18

2. 0 Introduction........................................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

2 .1 The Constitution ..................................................................................... 18

2.2 The UPDF Act ......................................................................................... 19

vi

2.2.1 Unit Disciplinary Committees and Courts Martial.. ............................... 19

2.2.2 General Court Martial .......................................................................... 20

2.2.3 Jurisdiction of General Court Martial ................................................... 20

2.2.4 Court Martial Appeal Court .................................................................. 20

2.2.4.1 Composition ...................................................................................... 20

2.2.5 Field court martial ............................................................................... 21

2.2.6 Decisions of Courts Martial Unit disciplinary Committees ..................... 21

2.2.7 Staff Court ........................................................................................... 22

2.2.8 Jurisdiction of appellate courts ............................................................ 22

2.2.9 The Advocates Act ................................................................................ 23

2.2.10 The Amnesty Act ................................................................................ 23

2.2.10.1 Grant of amnesty ............................................................................ 23

CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................... 24

FIELD FINDINGS ABOUT ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE MILITRY

COURTS. o •••••••• " •••••••••••••• o •• o o •••••••• o. o. o ••••••••••••••••• o ••••••••••••••••••• o •••••••••••••••• 24

3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................ 24

3.1 Findings from military court record ......................................................... 24

3.2 Procedures Used in the Administration of Justice in the Military ............. 26

3.3 Appeals ................................................................................................... 27

3.4 Bail ......................................................................................................... 27

3.5 Courts Martial in the United States ......................................................... 28

3.6 The Nuremberg trials .............................................................................. 28

3.7 Historical development ............................................................................ 29

vii

3.8 Principles governing the Administration of justice through military

tribunals ....................................................................................................... 29

3.9 Weakness in the judicial system of the military ....................................... 30

3.10 Soldiers who rape, commanders who condone ....................................... 31

3.11 Despite the above effort, however, the military justice system remains a

weak institution ............................................................................................ 32

CHAPTER FOUR ...................................................................................... 33

FINDINGS ABOUT PEOPLES ATTITUDE TOWARDS ADMINISTRATION OF

JUSTICE BY MILITARY COURTS .................................... o••····················· 33

4. 1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 33

4.1 Community members' attitude toward military courts in the administration

of justice ....................................................................................................... 33

:::!,HAPTER FIVE .................................... o ••••••• $ •••••••• o o ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• o •••

~ONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONN ............................................... 36

5.0 Introduction ............................................................................................ 36

5.1 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 36

i.2 Recommendation .................................................................................... 37

3IBILIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................... 38