Lawyer Defending Uganda’s Opponent Faces Treason Charge Amid Political Crackdown

Thu Jun 18 2026 19:09:11 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Ugandan lawyer fighting a jailed opposition figure was arrested and charged with treason-related offences, sparking outrage amid rising political tensions.

Erias Lukwago, a former mayor and lawyer for detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye, was arraigned on a treason‑related charge after his arrest at home. The move followed a boast by military chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on social media about the seizure. Lukwago appeared weak in court and denies the failure‑to‑report treason accusation, remaining imprisoned until his next hearing. His family has asked courts to reveal the security forces’ whereabouts, claiming the arrest was ordered by the army chief. The incident highlights growing fears of political repression in Uganda.

Lawyer Defending Uganda’s Opponent Faces Treason Charge Amid Political Crackdown

Erias Lukwago, the arrested lawyer, stands in a court kitchen

©Reuters

In a shocking twist, Erias Lukwago – a former mayor and the lawyer who represents jailed opposition figure Kizza Besigye – has been charged with a treason‑related offence. Lukwago, who narrowly avoided a nightmare courtroom, appeared visibly exhausted after police seized him at his home earlier this week.

The Court Drama

The magistrate’s court in Kampala heard Lukwago’s denial of the failure‑to‑report treason accusation. The verdict came after the armed forces’ chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, boasted on X about the arrest, stirring an outcry across the country. Lukwago is now remanded until next week, when his case is scheduled for full scrutiny.

Family’s Plea for Transparency

Lukwago’s relatives took the matter to court, demanding security officers disclose his location and release him – whether “dead or alive” – after they claim he was abducted following a planned summons to Gen Kainerugaba. The family highlighted the army chief’s prior social media posts that suggested mistreatment.

The Bigger Picture

Besigye, a long‑standing critic of President Yoweri Museveni, has been detained on treason charges since his forced return from Kenya in late 2024. Lukwago’s arrest amid this backdrop underscores the escalating clampdown on opposition lawyers and activists in Uganda’s political arena.

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