President Yoweri Museveni has assented to the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Act, 2025, providing the UPDF with a broadened legal framework that enhances military court powers, formalizes Special Forces Command (SFC), strengthens internal oversight, and improves welfare for personnel and veterans.
This comes just days after he praised Parliament while speaking at the State of the Nation Address on June 5 at Kololo, for passing the bill. He particularly thanked the Speaker, ministers, and the NRM caucus, for passing the bill, describing the UPDF as “a very powerful pillar of the state” that must be governed uniquely.
The newly enacted law introduces major reforms aimed at modernising military operations, improving soldier welfare, and overhauling internal justice systems.
The amendments were intended to align the UPDF Act, Cap. 330, with new government policies and evolving command, control, and administrative structures within the Defence Forces.
Section 2 of the principal Act has been amended to redefine the composition of the Defence Forces. The UPDF will now consist of the Land Force, the Air Force, the Special Force Command, the Reserve Force, and any other service prescribed by the Defence Council with the approval of Parliament. Under Section 4(b), the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces also serves as Inspector General, responsible for monitoring discipline, professionalism, and adherence to UPDF and national standards.
Section 5 has been amended to allow members of auxiliary forces called upon to serve in the Reserve Force to be absorbed into the regular forces. The Minister is also empowered to make regulations that prescribe the terms and conditions of service of the Reserve Force.
Section 7 has been extensively revised to establish new senior positions and reorganize leadership responsibilities. A new Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Inspector General of Defence Forces has been introduced. Other additions include the Commander Special Force Command and the Commander Reserve Force, both responsible for command, control, coordination, and administration of their respective units. The title of Chief of Joint Staff has also been introduced, charged with coordinating and administering the entire Defence Forces.
The same section introduces new responsibilities for officers at the Joint Services Headquarters, who will now head strategic institutions, lead Joint Staff branches, and manage Directorates, all reporting to the Chief of Joint Staff.
In Section 10, the title “Chief of Personnel and Administration of the Defence Forces” has been replaced with “Joint Staff, Human Resource Management of the Defence Forces.”
Section 13 has been amended to include the Defence Forces Sergeant Major and all Regional Reserve Force Commanders under the Reserve Force as members of the Defence Forces Council. It also gives the Commander-in-Chief powers to co-opt any person to attend a Council meeting for advisory purposes, although such persons will not have voting rights.
Section 14 redefines the composition of the High Command. It will now include the President as Chairperson, the Minister, Ministers of State, Permanent Secretary, members of the 1986 High Command who meet certain conditions, the Chief of Defence Forces, the Deputy Chief and Inspector General of Defence Forces, all Service Commanders and their Deputies, the Chief of Joint Staff, all Service Chiefs of Staff, all Joint Staff at the Headquarters, Commanders of formations higher than Division level, all Division, Wing and Group Commanders, commanders of the military wings of liberation organizations as designated by the President, heads of military corporations, Commandants of the National Defence College and Senior Command College, commanders of the Marine Brigade, Civil Engineering Brigade, Military Police Brigade, Combat Engineers, Army Aviation, commanders of strategic institutions and training centres, all directors at the Joint Headquarters, and any other commanders or experts co-opted by the President.
The new law introduces a Service Command and Staff Committee under Section 17A for each Service, responsible for initiating policies, reviewing work plans and budgets, implementing directives, and overseeing training. Each committee will be chaired by the Service Commander and include chiefs of staff, formation commanders, and the Service Sergeant Major.
Section 18 has been amended to confirm the existence of an Implementation Committee, now chaired by the Chief of Joint Staff, to coordinate the execution of decisions from the Defence Forces Council and High Command.
Other changes include an updated Section 37 that allows officers to be seconded to forces within East Africa or to institutions inside or outside the country. Section 47 has been amended to permit officers granted temporary ranks to receive allowances and facilitation. New Sections 69, 69A, and 69B provide for compensation, helpers’ allowances, and retirement pensions for disabled officers.
The Act formalizes a robust three-tier court martial structure: Unit Court Martial: Presided by a Captain-qualified lawyer and two other members, tries offences punishable by up to five years. Division Court Martial: Chaired by a Lt. Col. and staffed by senior and junior officers, a political commissar, and an NCO; handles serious offences excluding capital crimes. General Court Martial: Headed by a Brigadier-General-level judge, with unrestricted jurisdiction, including civilian-related military offences. Panels of three make factual decisions; the Chair determines legal and procedural issues. Death sentences must be confirmed by the Supreme Court, ensuring a final civilian oversight layer sunrise.
Civilians can be tried in military courts in specified circumstances: possessing military-grade weapons or classified equipment; wearing UPDF uniforms or wear resembling without authorization; aiding UPDF personnel in crimes like murder, treason, or cattle rustling; or accompanying UPDF units. Temporary rank certificates can legally extend court martial jurisdiction to civilians, though they cannot be compelled into active combat .
Section 53 now allows the Commander-in-Chief to re-engage retired officers or militants with special skills, under contract. They will be eligible for gratuity at the end of their service term.
The new Section 69 provides that all officers and militants will be paid a consolidated salary, and that allowances will be set by the High Command.
Section 62 has been adjusted to specify that acting or temporary ranks do not guarantee salary of that rank, but new subsection (4a) allows the holder to receive facilitation and allowances tied to that rank.
Sections 115A to 115 guarantee free healthcare for active and reserve forces, including during leave or foreign deployments. Disability compensation, helper’s allowances, rehabilitation services, and post-service pension supplements , Dependants of active personnel are also covered, under ministerial regulation.
A Defence Forces Medical Board will oversee medical assessments, ensuring standardized evaluations and referral for further care or discharge.
The Act introduces: Re-engagement contracts for skilled retirees, with gratuity upon completion. Retirement managed by the Ministry of Defence, through a new Pensions Board , Consolidated salary structure set by High Command, Acting ranks now qualify for allowances (though not full salary), while temporary rank certificates normalize civilian trial authority.