29 Jan 2026

Chief Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe has hailed the launch of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Military Justice System as an indication of a major transformative shift in the justice system of the military.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative at the Sir Seretse Khama Barracks on Wednesday, Justice Ketlogetswe said as a nation built on the pillars of democracy, peace and justice, the system marked a bold step taken toward making fairness and accountability in the heart of the military institution.

He said the rule of law and accountability were the foundation of discipline, service and public trust.

He said the system upheld due process for all service members, preventing bias and aligning with protraction against inhuman treatment and arbitrary violations of human rights enshrined in the Constitution of Botswana.

Furthermore, he said the military justice system protected the force by upholding discipline while simultaneously safeguarding the rights of all individuals.

He added that without fairness, it became a blind instrument of oppression, and without accountability it eroded the trust that bound soldiers together.

He further commended BDF Commander, General Mpho Mophuting for his visionary leadership in championing the initiative, which guaranteed fundamental rights such as the right to life, liberty and the right to security and protection of the law.

Justice Ketlogetswe said when General Mophuting took over the command of the BDF, he promised, with resources permitting, to modernise and strengthen their defense capability.

General Mophuting, for his part, said the occasion represented the culmination of a deliberate and sustained reform journey anchored in the enactment of the BDF Act of 2018, which repealed and re-enacted the 1977 Act.

He said the Act reflected Parliament’s intention to modernise military justice and to ensure that discipline within the defence force was administered lawfully, impartially and in full conformity with constitutional values.

“As we move into the implementation phase, we do so mindful that the credibility of this military justice system will ultimately be measured by its fair, consistent and impartial application,” he said.

He said they valued the continued engagement, guidance and oversight of the judiciary and the legal fraternity as essential partners in sustaining legality, public confidence and institutional integrity.

In his welcome remarks, Judge Advocate General, Major Abel Motaung said the development was a historic occasion that marked a significant milestone in the evolution of the BDF.

He said the launch came after the review of the BDF Act, which was an exercise that came with several changes among them the establishment of the BDF military justice system.

Major Motaung further said the system aligned with his intent of reforming the BDF.

He said the Office of the Judge Advocate General was a fully functional office and the launch formalised the military justice system.

He added the office would be operating through a Jury, under a free and fair justice system that promoted impartiality.

Meanwhile, the officers of the Judge Advocate General office took an oath and were sworn in. 

Colonel Ontisitse Ntloore was sworn in as deputy judge advocate general, while Major Keorapetse Sereetsi and Major Gaolathe Kgopa were sworn in as judicial officers.

Major Alfred Baikakedi was sworn in as court administration officer, while Lt. General Dr Joshua Gabothuse was sworn in as Directorate of Military Prosecutions director while Major Keitumetse Lerothodi was sworn in as the deputy director. 

Major Molatlhegi Jubilee was sworn in as Trial Defence Services officer. BOPA