Erias Lukwago, a former Kampala mayor and prominent defense attorney, has been charged with failure to report treason in Uganda. The legal advocate represents detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who currently faces his own treason trial.
Lukwago appeared visibly weak before a magistrate in Kampala following his arrest earlier this week. He denied all allegations and was remanded to prison pending further hearings. His detention has triggered significant political backlash and accusations of state-sponsored intimidation.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s military chief and son of President Yoweri Museveni, publicly claimed responsibility for the seizure. Kainerugaba posted images of a blindfolded Lukwago on social media and boasted about inflicting pain on the lawyer. This conduct drew sharp condemnation from exiled opposition figure Bobi Wine, who alleged the arrest was retaliation for an attempted court summons against the general.
Lukwago’s family sought emergency court orders demanding security forces disclose his whereabouts, citing fears of abduction and mistreatment. The case highlights escalating tensions surrounding the prosecution of Besigye, a longtime rival of President Museveni who was forcibly returned to Uganda from Kenya in late 2024.