A prominent Ugandan opposition lawyer has appeared in court in Kampala after being charged with complicity in treason, following allegations tied to a wider political case involving one of President Yoweri Museveni’s key rivals.
Erias Lukwago, a lawyer and politician, was brought before a magistrate’s court on Wednesday, where he appeared visibly weak but alert, according to an AFP journalist. He has been charged with failing to report an alleged treason-related plot said to have been orchestrated in Kenya between 2021 and 2024, a charge that carries a potential life sentence if proven.
Prosecutors said Lukwago’s case has been merged with that of opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who has been in custody since late 2024 after being forcibly returned to Uganda following what supporters describe as an abduction in Kenya.
Lukwago strongly denied the allegations in court, questioning the logic of the charges given his role as Besigye’s legal counsel. “I am the one who has been counsel in that case. How could I be counsel in a case I am involved in?” he asked.
His legal team has applied for bail on medical grounds, with the hearing adjourned to June 22.
The case has also been overshadowed by claims surrounding Lukwago’s arrest. His family says he was taken earlier this week by security personnel who allegedly stormed his residence and forced him into a vehicle.
Shortly after, Uganda’s army chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, publicly shared images appearing to show Lukwago blindfolded and in custody, alongside social media posts praising his detention. In one post, he wrote: “I’m proud of ALL the hurt and pain I will inflict on the CRIMINAL LUKWAGO!”
He later claimed Lukwago would face at least 10 years in prison, further intensifying public concern.
Human rights activists have condemned the developments, accusing the government of both carrying out and publicly celebrating the mistreatment of opposition figures, raising renewed questions about rule of law and political freedoms in Uganda.
