KAMPALA — Former Kampala Lord Mayor and senior opposition figure Erias Lukwago has been transferred to police custody after spending nearly two days in military detention, according to opposition leaders, lawyers and police officials.
Lukwago, who also serves as one of the defense lawyers for opposition veteran Dr. Kizza Besigye, was reportedly picked up from his home in Wakaliga by security operatives on Monday, triggering widespread concern among opposition supporters and human rights activists.
On Wednesday morning, police confirmed that Lukwago was being held at Kira Road Police Station after being handed over by the military.
Police spokesperson ACP Rusoke Kituuma confirmed that Lukwago was in police custody, ending nearly 48 hours of uncertainty over his whereabouts.
The development came after a series of controversial social media posts by Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, including one showing a blindfolded man whom many social media users claimed resembled Lukwago.
“Lukwago will be in prison for a minimum of 10 years!” Muhoozi said. The military has not officially commented on the circumstances surrounding the detention.
Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura said she and other opposition leaders had gone to Kira Road Police Station following reports of Lukwago’s transfer.
“We are at Kira Division Police Headquarters where Salongo Erias Lukwago is currently being held. Counsel Segona has been allowed to access him. The rest of us have been blocked,” Nyanjura posted on X.
Meanwhile, reports circulating on social media suggested that Lukwago could face treason-related charges and may be added to the ongoing case involving Dr. Besigye. However, police had not formally announced any charges against him by press time.
Journalist Sudhir Byaruhanga reported that Lukwago was expected to be charged with treason, a move that would place him alongside Besigye in one of Uganda’s most closely watched political cases.
The arrest has drawn criticism from opposition politicians, legal practitioners and civil society groups, who argue that detaining a practicing lawyer representing a client in an active court case raises serious questions about judicial independence and the right to legal representation.
Several opposition figures described the operation as an abduction rather than a lawful arrest, citing the absence of immediate communication regarding Lukwago’s whereabouts and legal status.
Lukwago, a prominent member of Uganda’s opposition politics, has served as Kampala Lord Mayor and remains one of the country’s most vocal government critics. He has also been a key member of Dr. Besigye’s legal defense team in recent months.
By Wednesday afternoon, supporters and lawyers remained gathered at Kira Road Police Station awaiting clarity on the charges, if any, that Lukwago may face.
Neither the Uganda People’s Defence Forces nor the Special Forces Command had issued an official statement regarding the reasons for his detention.
The situation remains fluid, with legal teams and political observers closely monitoring developments.
