Lawyer in Ugandan Treason Case Faces Charges After Arrest

Thu Jun 18 2026 20:10:03 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Former mayor and lawyer Erias Lukwago, who handles opposition figure Kizza Besigye, has been charged with an alleged treason-related offence following his arrest.

Erias Lukwago, a former mayor and legal representative of detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye, was arrested and charged with failing to report treason. The move drew criticism, especially after African Army Chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba boasted of the arrest on social media. Lukwago’s family has sought court orders demanding his safe release and the location of security officers. The incident further deepens political tensions amid President Museveni’s government, where Besigye has long opposed the administration.

Lawyer in Ugandan Treason Case Faces Charges After Arrest

Erias Lukwago, a former mayor of Kampala and the lawyer representing jailed opposition leader Kizza Besigye, was arrested at his home early this week and later appeared before a magistrate’s court in Kampala, where he was charged with failing to report treason. He denied the allegation and has been remanded in prison until the next week when his prosecution will start.

The arrest sparked strong condemnation, notably from the family of Lukwago, who filed a court application seeking an order that demands security officers disclose his whereabouts and release him, whether "dead or alive". They claim the military chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni, boasted publicly that he was responsible for Lukwago’s seizure.

Kainerugaba posted pictures on X that appeared to show Lukwago blindfolded in an unknown setting, adding, "I’m proud of all the hurt and pain I will inflict on the criminal Lukwago!" These posts are part of a broader pattern of the army chief’s controversial online behaviour.

Lukwago’s activities as a legal advocate for Besigye have drawn a thickening line between the opposition and the ruling administration. Besigye, who once served as Museveni’s personal doctor, has contested the president’s candidacy multiple times and has endured several detentions, including being abducted in Kenya and forcibly returned to Uganda in late 2024.

The case highlights the fraught nature of political dissent in Uganda, where opposition figures frequently face legal challenges that many observers suggest are politically motivated.