KAMPALA. The Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court Wednesday evening remanded People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) acting president and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago to Luzira Upper Prison until Monday .
This came after the State requested more time to verify medical evidence and sureties’ documents presented in support of his bail application.
Chief Magistrate Sarah Basemera ordered Lukwago’s remand after prosecutors told court they needed additional time to verify claims regarding his health condition before responding to his application for release on bail.
Lukwago, who was earlier charged with misprision of treason, had applied for bail through his attorneys led by Medard Ssegona.
Prosecutors allege that between 2021 and November 2024, Erias Lukwago knew that Dr Kizza Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale, Joel Wakaima, Frank Atukunda and others were planning to commit treason in Uganda and Kenya ,but failed to report the information to authorities or take reasonable steps to prevent the alleged offence.
Lukwago challenged the charge, arguing that the allegations stem from conversations he held with clients in his capacity as legal counsel.
He questioned how a lawyer could be accused of committing an offence for receiving information from his clients while carrying out his professional duties, a position likely to place lawyer-client privilege and the independence of the legal profession at the centre of the case.
The prosecution did not immediately oppose the application but asked court for time to verify medical documents and claims relating to the veteran opposition lawyer’s health.
In response, the court directed the State to file and serve its submissions by Friday, while the defence was ordered to file any rejoinder by Saturday ahead of a mention scheduled for Monday.
“The State is given two days to verify and file its response,” the magistrate ruled, directing that submissions be exchanged electronically to expedite the process.
The court then ordered that Lukwago remain on remand until Monday when the matter will return for further proceedings.
“Salongo will be remanded till Monday,” the magistrate said.
Recognising concerns raised about Lukwago’s health, the court directed prison authorities to take his medical condition into account during his incarceration.
The magistrate also specifically addressed requests by the defence regarding an orthopedic mattress reportedly required by Lukwago, directing his family to liaise with prison authorities to arrange for its delivery in accordance with prison regulations.
Mattress
“The prison authorities are directed to take into account his medical conditions,” the court ordered.
The remand order came hours after Lukwago’s lawyers alleged that his health had deteriorated during nearly two days of incommunicado in a military facility following his kidnap by security operatives on Monday.
Speaking outside court, Ssegona claimed his client had been forced to perform strenuous physical drills despite his frail condition, causing him to collapse while in custody.
The lawyer further alleged that Lukwago was subjected to physical and psychological torture and made to sleep on bare ground before being transferred to police custody on Wednesday morning and eventually produced in court.
The State has not publicly responded to those allegations.
Lukwago’s detention has sparked widespread condemnation from the Uganda Law Society, the East Africa Law Society and opposition leaders, who have questioned both the circumstances of his arrest and the treatment he received while in custody.
The veteran lawyer is a member of Dr Kizza Besigye’s legal team and his arrest came amid an ongoing legal battle involving the opposition leader and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.Many believe this could have been the main reason for his arrest to disorganize the defense team in Besigye’s case which has been pending since November 2024 when he was abducted together with his aide Obeid Lutale while in a hotel in Nairobi.
.