President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Brig. Gen. Tukachngurwa Richard as the Chairperson of the General Court Martial (GCM).
Brig. Gen. Tukachngurwa was sworn in by the Principal Judge, Justice Jane Francis Abodo, following his appointment by President Museveni in December 2025.
He replaces Brig. Gen. Robert Freeman Mugabe, who has served as Chairperson of the General Court Martial for three terms.
During his tenure, Brig. Gen. Mugabe presided over several high-profile cases, including the treason trial of former presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye, human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza, and former Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura, among others.
“In accordance with Sections 192, 193, and 195 of the UPDF Act, as amended, and acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, I have appointed the persons below as Head and Members of the General Court Martial, and Chairpersons of Division and Unit Court Martials respectively,” President Museveni stated in a communication to the Commander of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Brig. Gen. Tukachngurwa will serve alongside Col. Wankandya Simon Tusah, Col. Asha Patra, Col. Kangwamu Fredrick, Col. Mugisha Raphael, Lt. Col. Igambi Mohammedie Nasser, and Maj. Amodoi Samuel Moses.
Other members appointed to the General Court Martial include Maj. Arihaihi Emmanuel, Maj. Nyombi Abubaker, and Maj. Chemtai Denis.
The appointed Chairpersons of Division Court Martials are Lt. Col. Drani Epalu David for the Fourth Division and Lt. Col. Mulyanti Yaqoub Hassan for the Special Forces Group.
President Museveni recently appointed new members to Uganda’s military courts in December 2025, following Supreme Court directives for officers to be High Court advocates, with specific new appointments including a new head for the General Court Martial and other officers for various military courts, though specific dates for the full panel’s swearing-in aren’t detailed in recent snippets
Museveni appointed new military officers to lead the military court martial, responding to a Supreme Court mandate requiring military court personnel to be advocates of the High Court
