Uganda: Former Lord Mayor Lukwago Denied Bail

By Black Star News

On June 22, interim President of the Opposition People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) and past-immediate Kampala Lord Mayor, now jailed Erias Lukwago’s defense lawyer, Medard Lubega Ssegona, emerged from the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court Chambers in Kampala telling his client’s supporters and members of the press outside court that; “They have informed us that the Chief Magistrate has advised that her ruling is not ready. Owing to the sensitivity of the case and the environment as you see it, she was informed that it is not advisable to return to court to convey that [that] the ruling is not ready. She did not want to gather the crowds that we have, especially when the ruling is not ready,” Sseggona said.

Former MP and PFF secretary-general/spokesman, Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, then took to X, formerly twitter, thus, posting: “Sad, Makindye Chief Magistrate Sarah Basemera has sent a frail @EriasLukwago back to Luzira Prison. Her action shows a change of heart because she is the one who scheduled the ruling [for] today [June 22]. It appears she will need clearance from the @KagutaMuseveni family.”

And the much-anticipated ruling on Lukwago’s bail application verdict now reads, as ruled by Chief Magistrate, Sarah Basemera: “The bail application is hereby denied.”

Two days after heavily armed men in military fatigue abducted Lukwago from his home in Kampala on June 15, the senior lawyer was dumped at a police station in Kampala who then produced him before the Chief Magistrate’s Court. Basemera then charged Lukwago with misprision of treason and remanded him to Luzira Prison in the outskirts of the capital, Kampala. The case is scheduled for mention on June 30.

 In her June 23 afternoon email ruling as per Electronic Court Case Management Information System, Basemera said, “In the present application, I have found that the offence charged is one concerning the security of the State and is punishable upon conviction by life imprisonment. While the seriousness of the offence is not by itself a bar to bail, it remains a relevant consideration in assessing whether the applicant will faithfully submit himself to the jurisdiction of the Court until the conclusion of the proceedings.”

According to Basemera in her ruling denying the frail Lukwago bail, although the applicant has a fixed place of abode (a home), a documented medical condition requiring continuous review and treatment, aforesaid conditions were insufficient to warrant automatic release on bail. She recognizes Lukwago’s position in society as PFF President, senior lawyer and former Lord Mayor; but, “Those attributes are,” Basemera ruled, “without doubt, evidence of distinction and public service and should never be treated as grounds for punishment or discrimination. Nevertheless, 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 release at this stage of the proceedings.”

Sseggona, on June 22, told court that Lukwago’s immunity had weakened and that medical tests showed that there was a reduction in his client’s white blood cell count. White blood cells fight disease pathogens in the human body whereas the red blood cells are responsible for the transportation of oxygen, among other functions.

According to Ssegona, the condition had left Lukwago vulnerable to infections and other illnesses. Ssegona claimed that Luzira Prison authorities had placed a tuberculosis patient in the-already sick Lukwago’s room. Ssegona alleged: “There is a threat of TB infection. The ward where Lukwago is being held is located just close to a TB ward treatment section.”

Again, he told  court that Lukwago’s spinal condition, involving a dislocated disc, had worsened and required specialised treatment unavailable within prison facilities in Luzira. “Meanwhile, for Honourable Lukwago, the health situation is not any better. It gets worse day by day. This, I must mention, because I have mentioned before,” said Ssegona on June 22.
Basemera, in her June 23 ruling, however, directed the Luzira Prison authorities—including the Commissioner-General of Prisons—to refer Lukwago to the country’s Mulago National Referral Hospital for a comprehensive medical assessment. “The applicant’s wife and one advocate of his choice shall be permitted reasonable access during the referral and treatment process at all times and shall be allowed to receive a copy of the medical report and recommendations issued by the attending specialists, subject to applicable prison regulations and security requirements,” Chief Magistrate Basemera ruled. This is despite Lukwago’s Ssegona-led defense team having informed court on June 22 that a referral hospital had recommended an MRI-guided assessment and treatment for client Lukwago.

Deported Kenyan senior lawyer and former Justice Minister, Martha Karua, has meanwhile, vowed never to enter Uganda again until Gen Yoweri Museveni is out of power because, according to Karua, Museveni can never be president for the rest of his life on earth. “She [Karua] came to Uganda on a legitimate observer mission. Her passport was duly-stamped. She was here in accordance with the law. It was extremely unfortunate that she was then denied entry into the country and forcibly deported. The reason we have learnt is just three words – persona non grata,” Law Society of Kenya President, Charles Kanjama, who had traveled with Karua to be in solidarity with Lukwago, said at Uganda Law Society (ULS) House in Kampala on the fateful June 22.

“When lawyers take the oath of office, we take the oath to fight for the rule of law and the administration of justice without fear or favour. Every lawyer knows that his profession gives him the responsibility and the duty to act without intimidation, to ensure that his client, no matter how unpopular, is able to enjoy their full rights of access to justice. Every client is entitled to speak for their lawyer. Without fear that what they said to their lawyer, their privileged communication will be disclosed to any third party,” explained Kanjama.

Karua, who had been denied a temporary practicing certificate in December 2024 to represent opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye in an impending treason case, was granted the legal document in January 2025. Alongside her senior advocate colleague Lukwago, she has been in Besigye’s defense team.

According to Kanjama, Karua’s deportation sends the wrong message at a time when East African states are promoting regional integration and the free movement of people and services. “We recognize that in East Africa, we have heard that there is a desire to pursue even greater integration and to even reach the level of political federation. But that integration begins now. It begins with the ordinary men and women of our various countries being able to trade with each other, to travel to each neighboring country without obstacles. It begins with us having that cordiality with one another,” said Kanjama, vowing: “As lawyers, we make a commitment that we will continue, without fear or favour, representing our clients across East Africa. We are also going to undertake strong advocacy so governments respect the rights of lawyers to practice without threats, intimidation or interference.”

“And so when the administration just rejects a person who actually has a special license to come even and practice law in Uganda as persona non grata,” Kanjama warns, “it sends a chilling signal. It sends a very discouraging message to the citizens of all the East African countries. But we will not be bowed, we will not relent in that desire that is not just something elite; it belongs to us as professionals to pursue greater regional integration and to create more effective spaces for the pursuit of justice, rule of law and constitutionalism in each of our partner states.”

 ULS says the deportation of Karua coupled with Lukwago’s arrest are pointers to growing pressure on lawyers handling politically-sensitive cases. “This is unacceptable. We shall not allow it to pass because if we let it pass, then it is going to be a big blow to our practice of law across the East African Community. We shall be communicating the steps we shall take to rectify this unfortunate error,” said ULS Vice-President, Anthony Asiimwe.

“As the Radical New Bar, apart from issuing a statement of condemnation, which we did earlier, when consultation with our colleagues, the governing council here of the Radical New Bar, our counterparts from East African society, and other societies across the East African community, we shall be taking the necessary steps. What should come out clearly is that this is unacceptable,” Asiimwe said, before promising: “We intend to begin our strike to show our dissatisfaction with the complete disrespect and disregard for the rule of law in the country.”

And recapping it all; “Add this to the denial of entry into Uganda of former Kenyan Justice Minister @MarthaKarua; all happening today [June 22]. Mind you, we have set aside billions of shillings for embassies to promote Uganda’s tourism. But these are the scenes from Uganda on international media. What a contradiction. Cry my beloved country!” Ssemujju exclaimed on June 22.