President Museveni has been asked to intervene following the arrest and alleged mistreatment of former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
The appeal came from Winnie Byanyima, the wife of opposition politician Kizza Besigye, after Lukwago was reportedly taken from his home in Wakaliga by security operatives.
Byanyima said she was disturbed by what had happened to Lukwago, who is one of Besigye’s lawyers.
“I am devastated by what has been done to Erias Lukwago. His abduction, torture and public humiliation are not just an attack on one man. They are an assault on the rule of law itself,” she wrote on X.
She accused Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba of acting outside the law and asked what protection remains for lawyers, judges, prisoners and ordinary citizens.
“What meaning is left in a court case when one man holds such unchecked power? What protection exists for prisoners, lawyers, judges or ordinary citizens?” she asked.
Lukwago, who leads the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), was reportedly preparing to serve court summons on Gen Kainerugaba before his arrest. The summons were reportedly issued by Justice Emmanuel Baguma.
Gen Kainerugaba later confirmed that he had ordered the operation against Lukwago.
He has since posted photos of Lukwago on X, including one captioned “Ongea Kiswahili” and another saying: “He keeps saying ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry’. It won’t help him now.”
By press time, authorities had not announced any charges against Lukwago or disclosed where he was being held.
