Lawyer of Uganda opposition figure Besigye charged with treason‑related offence

Erias Lukwago, a former mayor who represents jailed opposition leader Kizza Besigye, has been charged with a treason‑related offence. He was arrested at his Kampala home on Monday and appeared before a magistrate court the following day, looking visibly weak. Lukwago denied the allegations of failing to report treason and was remanded in custody until the case is heard next week.

Opposition activist Bobi Wine accused the arrest of being ordered by army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who publicly bragged about the incident on social media. In a post on X, Kainerugaba shared photos purportedly of Lukwago blindfolded, suggesting a punitive response to a planned court appearance on the chief.

Lukwago’s family has sought a court order demanding that security agents disclose his whereabouts and release him, stating “whether dead or alive.” They argue that Kainerugaba had publicly taken responsibility for the seizure and has a history of abduction and torture of opposition figures.

The lawyer has represented Besigye, who has been detained since a 2024 arrest in Kenya and forced return to Uganda. Besigye, once the president’s personal doctor, has repeatedly challenged Museveni in elections and faced multiple arrests, highlighting a broader pattern of political repression in Uganda.

Human rights groups warn that these charges signal a growing use of treason law against critics of the Museveni regime, raising concerns about due process and the rule of law.