By Our Reporter
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has signed into law the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Act, 2025, significantly expanding the Uganda People’s Defence Forces’ (UPDF) exclusive control over military attire, ceremonial items, and associated stores. The legislation, expected to carry far-reaching legal and political implications, comes at a sensitive time as the country prepares for the 2026 general elections.
The newly amended law introduces Section 117A, which formally adds Schedule B—a comprehensive list of items now classified as UPDF-exclusive military stores. These include various pieces of military apparel and regalia, ranging from ceremonial shoes to specialized combat headgear.
Key Provisions Of Law
Under the updated legislation, the following items are now restricted for military use only:
- Ceremonial shoes for officers and militants
- Military belts and metallic buttons embossed with the national emblem
- Lanyards, ceremonial forage caps, and camouflage baseball caps (both woodland and desert)
- Military helmets, berets (green, black, and sky blue), and ceremonial swords
- Black ranger boots, ankle boots, and army green gum boots
Visual representations of the restricted items are included in the law, offering clarity to enforcement agencies and the public. The legal framework seeks to eliminate ambiguity surrounding the possession and use of military-style uniforms and symbols.
Government officials argue that the legislation is necessary to prevent impersonation of military personnel, protect the integrity of the armed forces, and safeguard national security. The UPDF has long raised concerns about the unauthorized use of military regalia by civilians, especially during politically charged events.
However, the law’s timing and scope have renewed concerns among opposition groups, particularly the National Unity Platform (NUP) led by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine). Since 2019, NUP members have frequently clashed with security forces over the use of red berets, which the government previously gazetted as restricted military gear under the UPDF Act. The red beret, a prominent symbol of NUP’s identity and political resistance, has led to arrests and prosecutions of party supporters and leaders for allegedly violating military dress code laws.
With the President’s assent, the new law now offers expanded legal backing for authorities to arrest and prosecute civilians found in possession of or wearing items listed in Schedule B. Legal experts warn that the enforcement of these provisions could increase tension between state security agencies and opposition activists, especially as the election cycle heats up.
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