General Court Martial: 2 Ex-Spies Sentenced to Death for Murder

Two former Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel members, Hamza Lyavaala and Adil Walusansa, who later worked as state informers, were sentenced to death by the General Court Martial in Makindye, Uganda, on Wednesday for murdering two women in staged bomb incidents linked to the 2025 Martyrs Day celebrations. This severe judgment underscores the Ugandan military justice system's broad jurisdiction and its application of capital punishment for grave offenses, even when involving individuals with complex ties to state security operations.

This ruling carries significant legal implications for practitioners, particularly those involved in criminal defense, human rights, and military law in Uganda. It highlights the continued use of the death penalty in the country and the military court's authority to try individuals who, despite their civilian status at the time of the offense, have past or present connections to military or intelligence services. The involvement of state informers in such heinous crimes also raises critical questions about state accountability, oversight mechanisms for intelligence assets, and the ethical boundaries of counter-terrorism operations, which could lead to further legal challenges or policy reviews.

The legal context for this case is rooted in the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) Act, which defines the jurisdiction of the General Court Martial over