In brief
In the latest political escalation in Uganda, former mayor turned lawyer Erias Lukwago has been charged with a treason‑related offence after his arrest at home. Lukwago, who represents opposition figure Kizza Besigye, denied the failure‑to‑report treason claim and was remanded until his case next week. The arrest prompted condemnation; military chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba boasted on social media while opposition politician Bobi Wine alleged the move was ordered by Kainerugaba. Family members sought court orders demanding the whereabouts of Lukwago and urging his release. The incident highlights concerns over the use of legal tools as political weapons.
A former mayor and lawyer in Uganda, Erias Lukwago, has been charged with a treason‑related offence during an ongoing high‑profile case. Lukwago is the legal representative for detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who faces treason charges of his own.
\Lukwago appeared weak in the magistrates’ court in Kampala after authorities seized him at his home early in the week. He denied the accusation of failing to report treason and was remanded until the hearing next week.
\The arrest drew sharp condemnation, particularly after Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s military chief and son of the president, boasted about it on social media. Opposition figure Bobi Wine later alleged that Lukwago had been detained per Kainerugaba’s orders while he awaited a summons to court.
\Lukwago’s family petitioned the court to compel security forces to disclose the suspect’s location and release him, whether “dead or alive”. The family’s claims were underpinned by Kainerugaba’s earlier bragging about mistreating Lukwago.
\The case reflects a broader pattern of political persecution, as Besigye has repeatedly been arrested since breaking ranks with President Yoweri Museveni. Lukwago’s legal role in Besigye’s defence places him squarely in the centre of Uganda’s tense political arena.
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