The High Court has ordered Luzira Upper Prison to produce jailed former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago on July 24 for the hearing of his bail application, days after he was committed for trial on a charge of misprision of treason.
A production warrant issued on July 16 directs the officer in charge of Luzira Upper Prison to present Lukwago before Justice David Matovu at 10:00am.
In his bail application filed through Lukwago & Co. Advocates, the 56-year-old lawyer argues that he qualifies for release under constitutional provisions guaranteeing the right to liberty and the right to apply for bail.
Lukwago, who identifies himself as an advocate, former Kampala Lord Mayor, former Kampala Central MP, former Shadow Attorney General and executive chairperson of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), says he remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
He says he has a permanent residence in Bulwa Zone, Wakaliga, Rubaga Division in Kampala and is therefore unlikely to abscond.
Lukwago also argues that his nearly 30 years of legal practice have given him a clear understanding of the obligations attached to bail and that he is willing to comply with any conditions the court may impose.
His application cites several medical conditions, including hypertension, chronic gastritis, hiatus hernia, tinnitus, respiratory illness, serious spinal complications and post-operative health issues, which he says require specialised treatment, strict medication and close medical supervision.
According to court documents, Lukwago contends that prison authorities cannot provide the level of healthcare he requires, adding that his age and declining health make continued detention especially difficult.
In a supporting affidavit sworn from Luzira Prison, Lukwago recounts the circumstances of his arrest.
He says armed operatives, including individuals allegedly wearing Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) uniforms, surrounded his home in Wakaliga on June 15, forced their way into the premises and arrested him before transporting him in what he describes as a “drone” vehicle to an undisclosed location.
Lukwago alleges that he was detained for two days without access to lawyers, relatives or his personal doctors before being transferred to Kira Police Station and later presented before the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court on June 17, where he was charged with misprision of treason.
He says an earlier application for bail before the Chief Magistrate’s Court was rejected, although the court ordered that he be taken to Mulago National Referral Hospital for medical assessment.
According to his affidavit, specialists at Mulago later recommended that he undergo specialised treatment in India, saying the required care could not be provided under prison conditions in Uganda.
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Lukwago says he previously underwent cervical spine surgery at Fortis Memorial Hospital in India after being diagnosed with a C6-C7 disc prolapse.
He also states that he suffers from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), tinnitus and other chronic illnesses requiring ongoing specialised treatment.
Lukwago further alleges that while in detention between June 15 and June 16, he was subjected to forced physical exercises despite his post-operative condition, worsening his health complications.
He argues that continued detention without the necessary treatment could expose him to “grave and irreparable harm.”
To support his application, Lukwago has presented four proposed sureties: Gulu City Woman MP Betty Aol Ocan, former Buikwe South MP and medical practitioner Dr Michael Philip Bayiga Lulume, Mukono Municipality MP Betty Bakireke Nambooze, and his elder brother Hajji Abdul Sewankambo.
In his affidavit, Lukwago says he has no intention of abandoning either his legal practice or family responsibilities and has every reason to attend court to clear his name.
He also argues that granting him bail would not prejudice the prosecution, while continued detention poses a serious threat to his health and life.
Earlier this week, the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court committed Lukwago to the High Court for trial after prosecutors informed the court that investigations into the case had been completed.
Prosecutors allege that Lukwago knew about a meeting held in Nairobi in November 2024 where discussions allegedly involved acquiring surface-to-air missiles, drones and other weapons, as well as plans to assassinate President Yoweri Museveni and organise acts of civil disobedience, but deliberately failed to report the information to the authorities.
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