Former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has been charged with misprision of treason and remanded to Luzira Prison.
Lukwago appeared before Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after spending two days in incommunicado detention.
He was arrested by armed men from his home in Wakaliga, Rubaga Division, Kampala. At the time, he was reportedly preparing to serve court papers on the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in connection with the Dr Kizza Besigye treason case.
The charge makes Lukwago the latest suspect in a case that already includes Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide, Obeid Lutale.
Prosecution Outlines Allegations
A visibly frail Lukwago was taken to court shortly after lunch.
Before his appearance, he had been handed over to police and taken to Kiira Police Station.
Prosecution charged him with one count of misprision of treason.
The State alleges that between 2021 and November 2024, in places including Kampala and Nairobi, Kenya, Lukwago and others still at large knew that Joel Wakayima, Frank Kihehere Atukunda, Obeid Lutale and Dr Besigye intended to commit treason.
Prosecution claims they failed to report the information to the relevant authorities. These included a minister, the Internal Security Organisation, a magistrate or an officer in charge of a police station.
State Attorney Carol Apia told court that investigations were still ongoing.
Lukwago Denies Charge
When the charge was read to him, Lukwago rejected the allegations.
“It is not true. Actually, the people mentioned are my clients. How can I commit the crime when I am their lawyer?” he told court.
Misprision of treason refers to knowingly concealing information about a planned or committed act of treason and failing to report it to authorities.
It differs from treason itself, which involves direct participation in acts against the State. Misprision is a lesser offence and focuses on failure to disclose knowledge of such acts.
Lukwago has been one of the lead defence lawyers for Dr Besigye and Lutale.
The two are facing treason and misprision of treason charges after their arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2024 and subsequent transfer to Uganda.
Defence Applies for Bail
After the charge was read, Lukwago’s lead counsel, Medard Sseggona, asked court to release him on bail.
“We have instructions to apply for bail,” Sseggona submitted.
He told court that Lukwago has a known home in Wakaliga, a family and nearly 30 years of legal practice.
Sseggona argued that his client was unlikely to abscond.
“He is an advocate of this court and has practised law for close to 30 years. He understands the implications of bail and undertakes to appear whenever required by court,” Sseggona said.
The lawyer also cited Lukwago’s health.
He said Lukwago suffers from chronic gastritis, hypertension and respiratory complications. He added that the conditions require constant medical supervision, specialised medication and a strict feeding schedule.
Sseggona further told court that Lukwago underwent cervical spinal surgery at Fortis Hospital in Gurugram, India.
He said doctors inserted a metal implant during the operation.
“Following the violent arrest and detention, the implant has been affected, leaving him in severe pain and requiring urgent medical attention,” Sseggona submitted.
Sureties Presented in Court
The defence presented three sureties to support Lukwago’s bail application.
They were Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, Gulu City Woman MP Betty Aol Ochan and former Buikwe South MP Dr Lulume Bayigga.
However, the prosecution opposed an immediate hearing of the bail application.
Apia said the State needed time to verify Lukwago’s medical records and examine the credentials of the proposed sureties.
She told court that some sureties had not attached local council introduction letters.
The prosecution also said the medical documents needed verification.
“We pray for time to verify the documents of the accused and thereafter respond appropriately to the bail application,” Apia submitted.
The State initially asked for a one-week adjournment.
The request drew murmurs of disapproval from Lukwago’s supporters, who had packed the courtroom.
Defence Seeks Medical Care
Sseggona urged court to consider Lukwago’s health if it decided to remand him.
He asked that Lukwago be allowed access to specialised medical care, an orthopaedic mattress, prescribed meals and his personal doctors.
“What the State is doing is inviting the court to conduct an experiment on the accused person,” Sseggona argued.
He proposed that Lukwago be kept under guard at a government medical facility while authorities verify his medical records.
“If the intention is not death, then he can be taken to a government health facility under guard with limited visitation. We do not have a problem with that arrangement,” he submitted.
Chief Magistrate Sarah Basemera granted the prosecution time to verify the documents.
However, she declined to give the State the full week it had requested.
She remanded Lukwago to Luzira Prison and ordered that he be returned to court on Monday for further directions on his bail application.