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Ugandan opposition lawyer and former Kampala mayor Erias Lukwago appeared in court on Wednesday charged with complicity in treason, days after he was detained by security forces. The arrest, which has drawn widespread condemnation, came as Lukwago was preparing to serve a court summons on army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni. Lukwago denied the charges and was remanded to Luzira Prison, with his bail application hearing adjourned to June 22.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Africa News, AllAfrica, and BBC — World describe a sequence of events beginning on Monday, June 15, when Lukwago was reportedly seized from his home in Wakaliga, on the outskirts of Kampala. According to relatives and members of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), armed personnel entered his residence and took him to an undisclosed location. Some reports specify that the operation was carried out by soldiers attached to the Special Forces Command (SFC), who arrived in two vehicles, one without number plates.

Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces, acknowledged the detention in a series of posts on X, sharing images appearing to show Lukwago in custody and vowing to inflict "hurt and pain" on him. In one post, he said he had "captured a fool and taken him to the basement," and in another he claimed Lukwago had pleaded for his life. His posts, which continued throughout the detention, included references to caning and a reversal of an earlier statement that Lukwago would be handed over to police.

Lukwago's wife described the incident as a politically motivated operation, and his family went to court seeking an order compelling security officers to disclose his whereabouts and release him "dead or alive." The Uganda Law Society reported that Lukwago was abducted by members of the Special Forces Command and allegedly subjected to torture before being arraigned. The police maintained that they had not participated in the arrest and did not know Lukwago's whereabouts.

Key Claims

  • Lukwago was detained by security forces after preparing legal action against Muhoozi Kainerugaba, specifically while preparing to serve a court summons related to a lawsuit filed by Kizza Besigye.
  • Muhoozi Kainerugaba posted about the incident on social media, boasting about Lukwago's detention and sharing images of him blindfolded.
  • Lukwago's wife described the incident as a politically motivated operation, and his family accused security forces of abducting him.
  • Opposition leaders and human rights advocates condemned the arrest, with some alleging that it was carried out on Kainerugaba's orders.
  • Lukwago was charged with complicity in treason and failure to report a treason-related plot, which he denied, and was remanded to Luzira Prison.
  • The incident has sparked concerns over the rule of law and human rights in Uganda, with the Uganda Law Society condemning the attack and calling for solidarity among lawyers.

Perspectives

Government and Military: General Muhoozi Kainerugaba posted on social media in a manner that appeared to confirm and celebrate the detention, referring to Lukwago as a "criminal" and an "idiot." He claimed Lukwago had pleaded for his life and warned that anyone attempting to summon him to court would "learn the lesson."

Opposition and Legal Community: Lukwago's wife and his family denounced the incident as a political kidnapping, and his legal team denied the charges, with Lukwago questioning how he could be counsel in a case he was allegedly involved in. The Uganda Law Society, along with lawyers including Martha Karua and Isaac Ssemakadde, called for solidarity and stronger action to defend the independence of the legal profession, warning that attacks on advocates pose a growing threat to the rule of law.