Former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has been transferred from Kira Division Police Headquarters to Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court, where he is expected to be charged with treason.
Earlier on Wednesday, Lukwago was taken to Kira Division Police Headquarters in Kira Municipality, where he recorded a statement in the presence of his lawyer, Medard Lubega Ssegona.
Most of his family members, friends and supporters were denied access to the police station. Heavy security deployment at the premises also kept journalists away from the station as authorities processed the suspect.
At around 1:30 p.m., Lukwago, who appeared visibly weak and with a shaved head, was escorted into a police pickup amid a crowd of supporters and politicians before being driven under tight security to Makindye court.
Police sources close to the investigations told URN that Lukwago is expected to face treason-related charges. However, police spokesperson ACP Rusoke Kituuma declined to comment on the specifics, saying details of the charges would be presented in court.
Former Kampala Capital City Authority deputy lord mayor Doreen Nyanjura said Lukwago’s family and supporters remained concerned about his health after police allegedly denied access to his personal doctors.
“His wife and other doctors were not allowed to meet him. We wait to see his condition, but the only person who met him, his lawyer Medard Ssegona, told us that he was not well,” Nyanjura said at Kira Police Division.
Since Monday, Lukwago’s family and lawyers from Lukwago & Co Advocates say they have moved between several police stations searching for his whereabouts, without success, as police and military authorities remained silent on his detention.
By the time of filing this report, Lukwago was being produced before Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court amid heightened security.
Lawyers, political allies, religious leaders and supporters had gathered at the court premises awaiting his appearance and details of the charges, as his legal team prepared to apply for bail.
Fellow Ugandans, these are the true colours of Museveni’s violent, family-ruled anarchy. Idi Amin was far more transparent; he openly declared himself President for life. Museveni did the same by stating that a mere piece of paper—referring to our rigged, violent elections—cannot remove him from power. He has made it clear that his family is fully in charge. Muhoozi abducts citizens at will, slapped treason charges on Erias Lukwago simply because Lukwago tried to serve him with legal court summons. This proves we do not have the rule of law; we have the rule of the gun. Today it is Lukwago; tomorrow it will be you and me. No one is safe. When is enough, enough? This is exactly why I am deeply furious with Bobi Wine (Kyagulanyi). He created a powerful movement with “People Power, Our Power,” but he chose to prioritize becoming the leading opposition figure to secure taxpayers’ money in Parliament. If Kyagulanyi were genuine, this regime would not still be in power, because nothing defeats true people power. Instead, we are back to business as usual. Mpawo atali kabba—everyone will eventually feel this extreme pain.
The treason charges brought against Erias Lukwago at Makindye Court represent the zenith of institutional breakdown under the current regime. Lukwago’s “crime” was merely attempting to serve Muhoozi with legal court summons. This confirms that Uganda is governed by a lawless family autocracy, not a constitutional democracy. Historical comparisons to Idi Amin are entirely justified; Amin was at least honest about his absolute rule, whereas the current regime uses theatrical elections to mask an ongoing military junta. The tragedy is compounded by an opposition leadership that has abandoned genuine struggle. Kyagulanyi’s “People Power” movement has devolved into a standard parliamentary faction focused on state funding rather than systemic liberation. By settling for the status quo of “business as usual,” the opposition has allowed this dictatorship to entrench itself further. As the Luganda saying goes, mpawo atali kabba—this systemic failure is inevitably harming us all.
Mblu, “LoP wants special House sitting over rights abuses.” Our Parliament is proving Muhoozi right for calling them clowns. Calling for a ‘special House sitting’ is completely meaningless when they are powerless to stop the ongoing abduction, torture, and murder of innocent citizens. For four decades, we’ve seen this exact cycle. Ssenyonyi and the opposition are just playing along to collect taxpayer money while nothing changes.”