In brief
Erias Lukwago, once the mayor of Kampala and now the defense lawyer for opposition leader Kizza Besigye, is charged with a treason‑related offence that could divide the political narrative in Uganda. His arrest, following a public show of force by the army chief, sparked international outrage and highlighted the murky relationship between the state and the opposition. Besigye himself faces an on‑going treason case after being arrested in Kenya and extradited back to Uganda. The situation exemplifies the escalating crackdown on dissent. The legal sparring may herald a new confrontational phase in Uganda’s political climate.
6 hours ago · by Basillioh Rukanga
The former mayor of Kampala, Erias Lukwago, who has been defending the detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye—charged with treason—is now himself facing charges.
Lukwago appeared before a magistrate’s court in the capital, appearing weak in the wake of an arrest at his residence the previous Monday.
He denies the allegation that he failed to report treason, yet remains remanded until the following week when the case will be heard.
The arrest drew condemnation after Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the army chief and president’s son, bragged about it on social media.
Bobi Wine, an opposition politician who fled after the January presidential election, claimed that Lukwago was seized at Kainerugaba’s orders because he was about to serve a court summons on the military chief.
In an X post, the lawyer urged his supporters to "reject and resist this brazen impunity".
The Lukwago family petitioned the court for an order requiring security officers to disclose his whereabouts and release him, insisting it mattered whether he was dead or alive.
The family argued that Kainerugaba had claimed responsibility for the seizure and boasted of mistreating Lukwago on social media.
Kainerugaba posted photos that appeared to show Lukwago blindfolded in an unknown location and threatened to inflict pain on the perceived criminal.
The military chief has a history of controversial posts, boasting of abducting and torturing political opponents.
Besigye has been detained on treason charges ever since his abduction in Kenya and forced return to Uganda in late 2024.
The long‑standing adversary of President Yoweri Museveni, Besigye formerly served as his personal doctor before breaking ranks in 1999. He has contested successive presidential elections and been detained multiple times.
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