KAMPALA, Uganda — The Makindye Chief Magistrates Court on Monday denied a bail application by Erias Lukwago, president of the opposition People’s Front for Freedom, who is facing charges of misprision of treason.
Lukwago, 56, a prominent senior advocate and former Kampala lord mayor, appeared before Chief Magistrate Sarah Anne Basemera following an earlier plea.
The prosecution alleges that between 2021 and November 2024, in various locations within Kampala and Nairobi, Kenya, Lukwago became aware that high-profile opposition figures intended to commit treason but failed to inform authorities or take steps to prevent the crime. The named opposition leaders include Col. Kizza Besigye, Joel Wakayima, Frank Kihere Atukunda, and Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya.
Defense counsel Medard Sseggona argued for bail on the basis of Lukwago’s presumption of innocence, a fixed place of residence in Wakaliga, and chronic health conditions that require specialized medical care. The defense presented three lawmakers as sureties: Betty Aol Ocan, Michael Phillip Lulume Bayiga, and Betty Bakireke Nambooze.
State attorneys Judith Nyamwiza, Caroline Opia, and Gabriel Obua strongly opposed the application. They argued that the gravity of the offense, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, increases the risk of flight. The state also contended that because investigations are ongoing, Lukwago’s high political and professional standing could allow him to interfere with potential witnesses.
In her ruling, Basemera dismissed the state’s objections regarding the sureties, declaring MPs substantial, and validated Lukwago’s fixed address.
However, the magistrate agreed with the prosecution regarding the severity of the charge and its implications for national security and public order.
Basemera ruled that Lukwago’s extensive political network and legal stature create a realistic risk to the integrity of the continuing cross-border investigation. Weighing the serious nature of the three-year allegations against his right to liberty, the court remanded the PFF leader in custody pending trial.
