Erias Lukwago, a former mayor of Kampala and lawyer for opposition figure Kizza Besigye, has been charged with a treason‑related offence after his arrest later this week.
The lawyer appeared before a magistrate in the capital looking visibly weak, according to local media, days after police seized him at his home. He denied failure to report treason and was remanded in custody until his case is heard next week.
The arrest sparked condemnation when Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s military chief and president Yoweri Museveni’s son, praised the detention on social media. Kainerugaba shared photos that appeared to show Lukwago blindfolded in an unknown location, claiming he had furthered the criminal activity of the lawyer.
Lukwago’s family has taken legal action, demanding that security officers disclose his whereabouts and release him either alive or dead (dead or alive), citing Kainerugaba’s public statements and alleged improper actions.
Besigye, who was abducted in Kenya and forcibly returned to Uganda last year, remains on trial for treason. He is a long‑standing political opponent of President Museveni, having run against him in several presidential elections and been detained multiple times.
The case underscores the tense relationship between the Ugandan regime and its opposition, as well as the risks faced by lawyers who defend activists. It further highlights concerns about the use of military power to silence dissent under the pretext of national security.
Reuters
