Lawyer for Jailed Opposition Figure Charged with Concealing Treason in Uganda

KAMPALA, Uganda — A court in Uganda on Wednesday charged an attorney for a jailed opposition leader with concealing treason, escalating a dispute with the country’s army chief, whom the lawyer seeks to hold accountable for alleged abuses.

Erias Lukwago was brought before a magistrate’s court in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, after being detained on the orders of army chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

He faces a charge of misprision of treason, which the presiding magistrate said results from his alleged failure to report treasonous acts by others. Lukwago has denied the accusations.

Lukwago, president of the People’s Front for Freedom opposition group, is the attorney for Kizza Besigye, a four‑time presidential contender currently jailed on treason charges that his supporters view as politically motivated. A former mayor of Kampala, he is a vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni and his son, General Kainerugaba.

The manner of Lukwago’s arrest—soldiers scaling the wall surrounding his home—surprised many and raised concerns about Kainerugaba’s growing authority, who posted on X that Lukwago would endure “hurt and pain” and could face a decade in prison. Kainerugaba remains active on X, regularly targeting perceived opponents.

Despite Museveni’s recent swearing‑in for a seventh term, Kainerugaba has become Uganda’s de facto leader, asserting that he will succeed his father as president—a prospect growing more likely as the 81‑year‑old leader leans heavily on his son’s military authority.

Kainerugaba appears to have retaliated against Lukwago, who told reporters before his arrest that he intended to hold the army chief accountable for alleged violations of Besigye’s rights, including the abduction in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2024 and his subsequent detention without bail in Uganda. Kainerugaba has threatened to hang Besigye, accusing him of plotting to kill Museveni.

“This fool will learn the lesson he has been begging for,” Kainerugaba said on Monday, expressing anger on X over Lukwago’s attempt to present him with court papers. He later posted photos of a blindfolded Lukwago appearing to beg for mercy.

The Uganda Law Society demanded Lukwago’s immediate release, stating that his arrest was contemptuous of court processes.

Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, has not indicated when he will retire. With no rivals within the ruling party, many believe the military will have a say in selecting his successor.

Associates portray Kainerugaba as a dedicated military officer who avoids flaunting wealth. He studied at military schools in the United States and Britain before assuming command of a presidential guard unit that has been expanded into an elite special‑forces formation. His father appointed him the nation’s top military commander in 2024.

Beyond his military responsibilities, he founded the Patriotic League of Uganda, whose membership includes government ministers, businesspeople, and other supporters.

Kainerugaba asserted this week that the parliamentary speaker and his deputy serve as his group’s envoys to the legislature.

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