Kampala City, Uganda: The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Makindye has rejected a bail application filed by People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) President and former Kampala Lord Mayor, Ssalongo Erias Lukwago, who is facing charges of misprision of treason.
Lukwago appeared before Chief Magistrate Sarah Anne Basemera on Monday following his earlier plea to the charges, and the ruling on his bail application was deferred to Tuesday in an electronic ruling
Through his legal team led by Medard Sseggona, Lukwago sought release on bail, citing the constitutional presumption of innocence, a fixed place of residence in Wakaliga, and chronic medical conditions that require specialised treatment.
The defence presented three Members of Parliament, Betty Aol Ocan, Michael Phillip Lulume Bayiga and Betty Bakireke Nambooze, as sureties.
But State Attorneys Judith Nyamwiza, Caroline Opia, and Gabriel Obua opposed the application, arguing that the offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, increasing the likelihood of abscondment if released.
The prosecution submitted that investigations remain ongoing and that Lukwago’s political influence and professional standing could potentially interfere with witnesses or the investigative process.
What are the charges?
Prosecutors allege that between 2021 and November 2024, in various locations including Kampala and Nairobi, Kenya, Lukwago was aware that several opposition figures, including Dr. Kizza Besigye, Joel Wakayima, Frank Kihere Atukunda, and Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, intended to commit treason but failed to report the alleged plans to authorities or take steps to prevent them.
In her ruling delivered electronically, Chief Magistrate Basemera approved all three sureties as substantial and dismissed concerns raised by the prosecution regarding their age, political positions, and places of residence.
The court also accepted that Lukwago has a fixed place of abode.
However, Magistrate Basemera agreed with the prosecution that the nature and seriousness of the charge, coupled with the status of ongoing investigations, weighed against granting bail at this stage.
She observed that misprision of treason is a serious offence connected to matters of national security and public order and carries a potential life sentence upon conviction.
The Magistrate further held that Lukwago’s public profile, extensive political networks and legal expertise present a realistic risk to the integrity of ongoing investigations.
After balancing the constitutional right to liberty against the interests of justice, the court ruled that Lukwago should remain on remand pending further proceedings in the case.
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