KAMPALA, Uganda: The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and First Son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has revealed that he will release opposition politician and lawyer Erias Lukwago to police custody, bringing a dramatic twist to a saga that has reignited debate over alleged abductions, unlawful detentions, and the shrinking civic space in Uganda.
In a series of posts on X on Tuesday, Muhoozi announced that he would hand over Lukwago to police after what he described as intervention from his wife, Charlotte Kainerugaba.
“Today, I will release this IDIOT to the police. I have run out of diapers. Never test me again!” Muhoozi posted, referring to the former Lord Mayor of Kampala.
In another post, he added, “My beloved wife Charlotte has convinced me to release the criminal Lukwago. I will release him because of my love for her.”
The posts came 24 hours after reports emerged that Lukwago, the acting president of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), had been seized by armed operatives from his home and taken to an undisclosed location.
Uganda opposition leaders, lawyers, and human rights activists had raised alarm over his whereabouts, with some describing the incident as an abduction.
The lawyer’s arrest attracted particular attention because he is one of the lead counsel representing opposition stalwart Dr. Kizza Besigye in ongoing legal proceedings and had recently initiated legal action against Muhoozi over alleged death threats made on social media.
The controversy deepened when Muhoozi himself appeared to confirm responsibility for the detention through a series of social media posts on Monday, including the publication of photographs showing Lukwago in custody. The images quickly spread online and triggered widespread criticism from opposition figures and rights defenders.
Opposition, Lawyers Condemn Arrest
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) was among the first institutions to condemn the detention, demanding Lukwago’s immediate release and warning against what it described as contempt for constitutional protections and legal processes.
Opposition leaders argued that the incident fits into a broader pattern of arrests and disappearances involving political activists, lawyers, and government critics.
Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, alleged that Lukwago had been taken by security operatives shortly before he was due to serve court documents connected to legal action involving Muhoozi.
The arrest has also drawn attention because Lukwago is not only a senior opposition politician but also a lawyer actively involved in several politically sensitive cases.
At the time of filing this story on Tuesday evening, it was still unclear whether Lukwago had formally been handed over to police or whether any charges would be preferred against him.
Neither the Uganda Police Force nor the Uganda People’s Defence Forces had immediately issued a detailed statement explaining the legal basis of the detention.
However, Gen Muhoozi’s declaration that Lukwago would be released to police has shifted attention to what legal processes, if any, will follow.
For critics, the episode has become the latest flashpoint in Uganda’s long-running debate over security operations, political freedoms, and constitutional rights, yet for government supporters, it has reinforced arguments that security agencies remain vigilant against individuals they consider threats to national stability.
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