The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has given the army 24 hours to release Erias Lukwago, the former Kampala lord mayor and prominent opposition lawyer who was arrested from his home by soldiers this morning.
Lukwago, the president of the opposition People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), was arrested at his residence in Wakaliga, Rubaga, by operatives reportedly linked to the Special Forces Command (SFC).
He first alerted the public himself, writing on X that he had woken up to find military vehicles and drones parked outside his gate, with uniformed and plainclothes personnel surrounding his home as he was preparing to take his children to school.
His wife, Zawedde Lubwama, told journalists that soldiers forced their way into their bedroom to take him. She said she tried to stop them but was overpowered. [See Video]
The arrest is widely believed to be connected to an explosive legal battle involving Lukwago’s client, Dr Kizza Besigye.
The government alleges Besigye plotted to overthrow President Museveni through meetings in Geneva, Athens, Nairobi and Kampala, and by seeking funds, weapons and military training.
The arrest unfolded against the backdrop of a human rights lawsuit filed by Besigye against Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), in which Besigye accuses the general of making public statements on social media threatening to hang or shoot him.
Last week, the High Court gave Gen Muhoozi seven days to file a response to the petition. Lukwago confirmed that the Attorney General Sam Mayanja had been served but that Muhoozi and two other military officers had not yet received their court papers.
Shortly after reports of the arrest emerged, Muhoozi took to X and wrote: “I have captured a FOOL and taken him to the basement!”
He then added in follow-up posts: “This one will learn Kiswahili” and “We are still warming up the fool.”
ULS said Lukwago’s arrest was an attack on the rule of law and announced it would use a platform known as the Radical New Bar to petition the judiciary, the East African Court of Justice and other international bodies if Lukwago was not released.
Martha Karua, a Kenyan senior lawyer and politician who is also part of Besigye’s defence team, described the arrest as interference with the judiciary and said Muhoozi was not above the law.
Medard Lubega Ssegona, speaking on behalf of Lukwago’s family, noted that Lukwago had faced more than 20 legal battles over the years and had never been convicted of any offence.
“He’s innocent, and nothing justifies today’s unlawful arrest,” he said.
