KAMPALA, Uganda — A Ugandan magistrate’s court on Wednesday formally charged a well-known opposition attorney with concealing treason, deepening a confrontation between the lawyer and the nation’s military commander, whom he had been attempting to hold legally responsible for alleged human rights abuses.
Erias Lukwago appeared before a magistrate’s court in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, just days after soldiers forcibly removed him from his home on the orders of army chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The charge against Lukwago — known legally as “misprision of treason” — was described by the presiding magistrate as stemming from his alleged failure to report acts of treason committed by others. Lukwago has denied all charges against him.
Lukwago serves as president of the People’s Front for Freedom opposition group and is also the legal representative for Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate currently imprisoned on treason charges — a case that Besigye’s supporters widely consider to be politically driven. Lukwago, who previously served as mayor of Kampala, has long been a vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni and Museveni’s son, Kainerugaba.
The way soldiers carried out Lukwago’s arrest — climbing over the perimeter wall of his home — alarmed many observers and intensified concerns about Kainerugaba’s expanding reach. The army chief posted on the social platform X that Lukwago would experience “hurt and pain” and could face up to ten years behind bars. Kainerugaba frequently uses X to publicly target those he views as adversaries.
Though Museveni was sworn in for a seventh straight term last month, Kainerugaba has increasingly operated as Uganda’s de facto leader. He has openly stated his intention to one day assume the presidency — a scenario that appears more plausible as his 81-year-old father leans more heavily on his son’s military authority.
The charges against Lukwago appear to be a direct response to his stated intention, shared with reporters before his arrest, to take legal action against Kainerugaba over his alleged involvement in violations of Besigye’s rights. Those alleged violations include Besigye’s abduction in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, in November 2024, and his subsequent imprisonment in Uganda without bail. Kainerugaba has publicly threatened Besigye, accusing him of plotting against Museveni.
On Monday, Kainerugaba expressed fury on X after Lukwago attempted to serve him with court documents. “This fool will learn the lesson he has been begging for,” he wrote. He later shared photographs showing a blindfolded Lukwago appearing to plead for mercy.
The Uganda Law Society responded by calling for Lukwago’s immediate release, arguing that his arrest showed contempt for court procedures.
Museveni, who has governed Uganda since 1986, has given no indication of when he plans to step down. With no challengers within the ruling party, many observers believe the military will ultimately play a decisive role in determining who leads the country next.
Kainerugaba’s associates describe him as a committed military officer who tends to avoid flashy displays of wealth. He received military training at institutions in the United States and Britain before taking command of a presidential guard unit that has since grown into an elite special forces division. His father appointed him as the country’s top military commander in 2024.
Beyond his military role, Kainerugaba founded a political activist organization called the Patriotic League of Uganda, whose members and supporters include government ministers and business figures alike.
This week, Kainerugaba claimed that even the speaker of parliament and the deputy speaker serve as his group’s representatives to the legislature.
