Former Kampala Lord Mayor and People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) president Erias Lukwago has been committed to the High Court for trial after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) completed investigations into a charge of misprision of treason.
The decision was made on Thursday by Makindye Chief Magistrate Sarah Basemera after the prosecution presented committal papers approved by the DPP, bringing proceedings before the Magistrate’s Court to a close.
Before the case was committed, Lukwago’s lawyer, Medard Lubega Ssegona, asked the court to allow his client to travel to Fortis Memorial Research Institute Hospital in India for specialised treatment while under prison guard, with his wife meeting the travel costs.
As an alternative, the defence requested that prison authorities replace Lukwago’s specialised electrically powered medical pillow, which they said had been dismantled by prison officials, and ensure he is kept in a well-ventilated environment.
Addressing the court, Lukwago said his health had worsened during his time on remand. He told the magistrate that specialists at Mulago National Referral Hospital had recommended surgery, but prison medical personnel were only monitoring his condition.
He said he now relied on sedatives to sleep and appealed to the state to facilitate treatment so he could properly prepare his defence before trial.
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State attorney Judith Nyamwiza opposed the applications, arguing that once committal papers had been filed, the Magistrate’s Court no longer had jurisdiction to consider the requests. She said any applications relating to Lukwago’s medical treatment should instead be filed before the High Court.
Chief Magistrate Basemera agreed with the prosecution, ruling that the filing of the indictment had ended the lower court’s authority to hear further applications in the matter.
“This court has no powers at the moment. I am alive to his medical needs, but this can only be managed by the High court in a bail application already filed by his lawyers,” Basemera ruled.
On the dispute over the medical pillow, the magistrate noted that prison authorities had raised security concerns after allegedly finding a recording device inside it. She advised Lukwago’s lawyers and family to engage the Uganda Prisons Service and explain how the equipment functions.
However, Ssegona rejected the claim, insisting the pillow contained no recording device and challenged prison officials to produce the alleged equipment. He argued that if prison authorities had dismantled the medical device without justification, they should replace it.
Lukwago did not enter a plea because offences related to treason can only be tried by the High Court. A hearing date will be fixed by that court.
According to an indictment signed by Assistant DPP Thomas Jatiko, Lukwago is accused of failing to report information relating to an alleged plot to overthrow the Ugandan government between 2021 and November 2024.
Prosecutors allege that, in his capacity as PFF president, he knew that opposition figures, including Dr Kizza Besigye, Hajji Obeid Lutale, Joel Wakhaima and Frank Kiherere Atukunda, allegedly intended to commit treason but neither informed authorities nor took reasonable steps to prevent the alleged offences.
The charge is brought under Section 25 of the Penal Code Act, which criminalises failing to promptly report knowledge of intended treason to the relevant authorities.
The prosecution says investigations began after Andrew Wilson, described as the proprietor of a private security company dealing in firearms, investigations and tactical training, allegedly informed Uganda’s military intelligence that Switzerland-based Ugandan Joel Wakhaima had approached him to source weapons, military equipment and training for a group allegedly planning to overthrow the government through armed rebellion.
According to prosecutors, Wilson later worked as an undercover operative under military intelligence supervision, secretly recording meetings and conversations involving individuals allegedly linked to the plot.
Court documents indicate that Wilson attended meetings in Brussels, Geneva and Nairobi involving opposition politicians and activists.
The prosecution alleges that Lukwago attended one of the meetings in Brussels, where discussions allegedly focused on recruiting Wilson as a military and security adviser for the planned operation, but failed to report the information to authorities.
Prosecutors further claim Lukwago was aware of plans to recruit and train supporters in intelligence gathering, surveillance, drone operations and paramilitary tactics, including an alleged training programme in Kisumu, Kenya, which they say was financed with 5,000 US dollars provided by Wilson.
The indictment also alleges that Lukwago knew of a meeting held in Nairobi in November 2024 where participants allegedly discussed acquiring surface-to-air missiles, drones and other weapons, as well as plans to assassinate President Yoweri Museveni and trigger civil disobedience, but failed to disclose the information.
The DPP says it intends to rely on covert audio and video recordings, forensic examinations of electronic devices, WhatsApp communications, immigration records, travel histories and other documentary evidence during the trial.
The case is linked to the substantive treason proceedings against Dr Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale, who were arrested in Nairobi in November 2024. Their case was transferred from the General Court Martial to the civilian courts following the Supreme Court decision in Attorney General v Michael Kabaziguruka and Others, and both have already been committed to the High Court for trial.
Lukwago will remain on remand pending the scheduling of his High Court trial, while Besigye and Lutale are expected to return to the High Court on July 29, 2026, when proceedings in their treason case resume.
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