Kampala, Uganda: The Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court has further remanded opposition figure and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago after the presiding magistrate deferred a ruling on his bail application, citing chaotic courtroom conditions and the need for more time to review complex legal arguments.
Chief Magistrate Sarah Basemera announced on Monday that the bail ruling would instead be delivered electronically through the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECMIS) within the next 24 hours.
The court also ordered Lukwago to return physically on June 30, 2026, for the mention of his case.
The date coincides with the scheduled court appearance of four-time presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye, for whom Lukwago serves as lead counsel, setting the stage for heightened political and public attention at the courthouse.
While addressing journalists after the proceedings, Lukwago’s lead lawyer, Medard Lubega Sseggona, expressed disappointment over the delay but said the defence team would await the court’s decision.
“Her Worship the Chief Magistrate advised that her ruling is not ready. Owing to the sensitivity of the case and the environment, she undertook to deliver the ruling by email via ECMIS within 24 hours,” Sseggona said.
“It’s not pleasant news to us. We have only remained brave because we are duty-bound to be brave.”
Sseggona also raised concerns about Lukwago’s health while in detention, arguing that the court should take into account medical considerations when determining the bail application.
“Meanwhile, for the Honorable Lukwago, the health situation gets worse day by day. We had a German national who was denied bail in Kalangala and died. We had the Honorable Muhammad Ssegirinya, who kept telling courts that he was in bad health, and they refused until it was too late. We have put all these materials before court, and we trust that the court will understand,” he said.
The case also attracted regional attention following reports that Kenyan lawyer and politician Martha Karua was denied entry into Uganda after travelling to Kampala to join Lukwago’s defence team.
Sseggona criticised the move, saying it undermined regional legal cooperation and the principles of the East African Community. “An accused person is entitled to have a lawyer of his or her choice from anywhere; that’s why there is room for accreditation,” he said.
“I know that the Honorable Martha Karua has not been denied entry but detained at the airport and deported. It is not within the spirit of the East African Community. As a professional, I am deeply concerned.”
Lukwago is facing charges of misprision of treason, which stem from allegations that he failed to report knowledge of a treason plot. He denies the charges.
The opposition lawyer remains on remand pending the court’s electronic ruling on his bail application.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
