Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court has denied bail to former Kampala Lord Mayor and People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) president Erias Lukwago, citing the risk of interference with ongoing investigations.
In a ruling delivered today Tuesday, chief magistrate Sarah Basemera held that Lukwago’s influence in society, coupled with the nature of the charges against him, weighed against his release at this stage of the proceedings.
Basemera noted that Lukwago is charged with an offence that attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and that investigations into the matter are still ongoing.
According to the magistrate, Lukwago wields considerable influence arising from his status as a senior advocate, former Lord Mayor of Kampala and president of a national political organisation.
She stressed that while public service and professional distinction should never be used as grounds for punishment or discrimination, they remain relevant factors when assessing the likelihood of interference with investigations.
“Without doubt, evidence of distinction and public service should never be treated as grounds for punishment or discrimination. However, they are equally indicative of an extensive professional, political, and social network which, when viewed against the backdrop of ongoing investigations, cannot be ignored in assessing the potential impact of Lukwago’s release at this particular stage of the proceedings,” Basemera ruled.
“Accordingly, I find that the ongoing nature of investigations, considered together with the applicant’s acknowledged public influence and the particular circumstances of this case, constitutes a relevant factor which weighs against the grant of bail at this stage.”
Despite denying bail, the court issued a series of directives regarding Lukwago’s health.
Basemera ordered the officer in charge of Murchison Bay Prison and the Commissioner General of Prisons to arrange, within 24 hours, for Lukwago to be referred to Mulago national referral hospital for a comprehensive medical assessment and treatment.
The magistrate further directed that Lukwago’s wife and one advocate of his choice be granted reasonable access during the referral and treatment process and be allowed to receive a copy of the medical report and recommendations from the attending specialists, subject to prison regulations and security requirements.
Under the court order, medical specialists at Mulago Hospital are required to conduct an assessment and prepare a written report detailing their findings, diagnosis, recommended investigations, treatment, medication, follow-up care and any other recommendations necessary for managing Lukwago’s condition.
The report is to be submitted to court. Basemera also directed the officer in charge of Murchison Bay Prison to ensure that Lukwago continues receiving all prescribed medication and appropriate medical care, and that recommendations made by the attending specialists are implemented.
Lukwago had applied for bail on medical grounds, telling court that he suffers from hypertension, gastritis, respiratory complications and a spinal condition that requires specialised medical attention.
He also argued that, at 56 years of age, he qualified as a person of advanced age. In support of his application, Lukwago presented Gulu City Woman MP Betty Aol Ocan, Buikwe South MP Michael Lulume Bayiga and Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze Bakireke as sureties.
While the court found the proposed sureties substantial, it nevertheless declined to grant bail. Lukwago is charged with misprision of treason under Section 25 of the Penal Code Act.
Prosecutors allege that between 2021 and November 2024, in Uganda and Kenya, Lukwago and others still at large knew of an alleged plot by Dr Kizza Besigye, Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya and others to overthrow the government but failed to report the information to relevant authorities or take reasonable steps to prevent the commission of the alleged offence.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the bail application, arguing that the offence carries a potential life sentence and that Lukwago’s release could create a risk of absconding and interference with investigations and witnesses.
Prosecutors also challenged the medical grounds advanced by the defence, maintaining that available evidence did not demonstrate that his condition could not be managed within the Uganda Prisons Service healthcare system, including Murchison Bay hospital.
State attorneys further questioned the suitability of the proposed sureties, although the court ultimately rejected those objections.
Lukwago was brutally arrested on June 15, 2026. Before his arrest, he was part of the legal team representing Besigye and Lutale in the treason case against them.
Court records in the Besigye case allege that several opposition politicians and activists participated in meetings held outside Uganda where discussions about removing the government allegedly took place.
Prosecutors claim that some of these meetings were secretly recorded by an individual identified in court documents as Andrew Wilson, who later worked with Ugandan security agencies as an informant.
Lukwago has denied the allegations. The denial of bail means that he will remain on remand and return to court on June 30, 2026. The date coincides with proceedings in the High Court treason case involving Besigye and Lutale, in which Lukwago had been expected to appear as part of the defence team.
