Human Rights and Climate Lawyer Unfairly Charged in Ugandan Military Case, Arbitrarily Detained and Mistreated
NEW YORK, NY (February 11, 2025) – Eron Kiiza, a human rights lawyer, poet, and environmentalist, must be immediately released from a military prison in Uganda, says Global Climate Legal Defense (CliDef). According to CliDef, the lawyer deserves justice for his wrongful conviction under military trials and abuse in detention, particularly in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Uganda’s top court affirmed on January 31, 2025 that military courts lack jurisdiction over civilians, effectively banning the practice, which was celebrated as a major step forward for the right to a fair trial in the country.
The Supreme Court ordered the military to halt ongoing trials and to transfer cases to the civilian system. However, the top judges did not rule on prior convictions or nullify prior rulings. The government responded by stating they would not respect the Supreme Court’s ruling despite the decision.
A military court previously sentenced lawyer Eron Kiiza on January 7, 2025 to nine months in prison without a trial or legal representation. He was charged for contempt of court following an altercation in the military court during a client’s case. Mr. Kiiza remains incarcerated in Uganda. Mr. Kiiza has suffered serious abuse and mistreatment by authorities while in detention.
“Throughout his career, Eron Kiiza has spoken up for his clients and the planet, holding up the law to ensure justice for all people,” said Alfred Brownell, founding president and co-founder of Global Climate Legal Defense. “Now he needs us to speak up too. The Ugandan government is misusing military courts to crack down on advocates and critics of the current regime. Mr. Kiiza must be released so he can get back to his family and important legal work.”
Despite the Supreme Court ruling, his case highlights the ongoing misuse of military courts to prosecute civilians in Uganda. Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Uganda ratified in 1995, guarantees the right to a trial before a “competent, independent, and impartial tribunal established by law.”
Mr Kiiza is a well-known advocate for communities impacted by the disastrous East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), which would extend for 1,433 km and move over 230,000 oil barrels each day. The proposed pipeline has experienced strong opposition over human rights and environmental concerns, sparking protests from Kampala to Paris. The project could displace more than 100,000 people and lock in dangerous climate emissions for years to come.
He is also the co-founder and managing partner of Kiiza and Mugisha Advocates, a law firm committed to public interest litigation, human rights law, environmental and climate change law, and internet governance. He is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda; a member of the Uganda Law Society and the East African Law Society. Mr. Kiiza has also acted as lawyer for the detained opposition leader Kissa Besigye.
Global Climate Legal Defense joins major human rights organizations in calling for justice for Mr. Kiiza, including Amnesty International, Friends of the Earth, Human Rights Watch, the International Bar Association, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the New York City Bar Association, and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.
About CliDef
Global Climate Legal Defense (CliDef) emboldens climate defenders to act by providing legal support. We offer legal advice, coordination, and funds for legal defense and strengthen a community of diverse lawyers and legal organizations to serve the climate movement. To learn more, please visit our website: www.climatelegaldefense.org
Contact: hello@climatelegaldefense.org