KAMPALA, Uganda — UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, describing the incident as a serious attack on the rule of law and raising concerns about what she termed growing impunity within Uganda’s security establishment.
In a statement posted on social media, Byanyima said she was deeply disturbed by the circumstances surrounding Lukwago’s arrest, which saw armed security personnel seize the veteran opposition lawyer from his residence in Wakaliga, Rubaga Division, before images later surfaced appearing to show him in detention.
“His abduction, torture and public humiliation are not just an attack on one man. They are an assault on the rule of law itself,” Byanyima said.
Byanyima connected Lukwago’s arrest to the ongoing legal proceedings involving opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused Hajj Obeid Lutale, in which Lukwago serves as a lead member of the defence team.
The arrest occurred days after the High Court directed Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and other respondents to file responses in a human rights application brought by Besigye and Lutale.
The petition challenges alleged threats attributed to Gen Muhoozi on social media and questions the legality of Besigye’s arrest in Nairobi in November 2024 and subsequent transfer to Uganda.
As one of the lawyers handling the matter, Lukwago had been involved in efforts to serve court documents on the respondents.
Addressing President Yoweri Museveni directly, Byanyima accused Gen Muhoozi of repeatedly acting outside established legal processes and exercising excessive influence over state institutions.
“Your son and army commander has repeatedly demonstrated that he is above the law. He threatened to kill Dr Kizza Besigye, defied court processes, and now Erias Lukwago, co-lead of Besigye’s defence team, has been brutalised,” she wrote.
Her remarks come amid growing controversy surrounding a series of social media posts by Muhoozi, including photographs appearing to show Lukwago in military custody. One widely circulated image appeared to show the opposition lawyer blindfolded while under detention.
The images have sparked concern among legal professionals, civil society organisations and opposition supporters, who argue that they raise serious questions about the treatment of detainees and adherence to due process.
Byanyima questioned whether Uganda’s legal institutions can function independently if individuals involved in ongoing court proceedings are subjected to arrest and detention under unclear circumstances.
“What meaning is left in a court case when one man holds such unchecked power? What protection exists for prisoners, lawyers, judges or ordinary citizens?” she asked.
Her comments add to growing criticism from legal and human rights groups demanding accountability and transparency regarding Lukwago’s detention.
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has since called for Lukwago’s immediate release and announced plans for a nationwide lawyers’ strike on June 26, which coincides with World Anti-Torture Day.
The legal body argues that the arrest raises fundamental concerns about access to justice, legal representation and respect for constitutional safeguards.
Several opposition leaders and human rights activists have also called on authorities to disclose the legal basis for Lukwago’s detention and clarify where he is being held.
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By Tuesday morning, security agencies had not publicly outlined the charges facing Lukwago or explained the circumstances surrounding his detention.
The absence of an official statement has fuelled speculation that the arrest may be connected to his role in ongoing high-profile legal proceedings involving Besigye and other opposition figures.
The incident is the latest development in a series of politically sensitive confrontations involving opposition leaders, lawyers and security agencies, further intensifying debate about civil liberties, judicial independence and the rule of law in Uganda.
As pressure mounts from legal bodies, human rights organisations and political actors, attention is now turning to whether authorities will formally charge Lukwago or provide further clarification regarding his detention.
