Former Kampala Lord Mayor and People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) President Erias Lukwago has been committed to the High Court for trial on a charge of misprision of treason. Makindye Chief Magistrate Sarah Basemera committed Lukwago to the High Court on Thursday after the prosecution presented committal papers approved by the DPP.
The committal brings the proceedings before the Magistrates’ Court to an end. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said investigations into the case had been completed. Erias Lukwago will remain on remand pending the scheduling of his trial by the High Court.
Lukwago has not yet entered a plea because treason-related offences can only be tried before the High 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 Government of Uganda between 2021 and November 2024.
The prosecution alleges that, as President of the People’s Front for Freedom, Lukwago knew that jailed opposition figure Col. (Rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye Kifefe, Hajji Obeid Lutale, Joel Wakhaima, Frank Kiherere Atukunda and others allegedly intended to commit treason but neither informed the authorities nor took reasonable steps to prevent the alleged offences.
The charge is brought under Section 25 of the Penal Code Act, which criminalises the failure to promptly report knowledge of intended treason to the relevant authorities. In its summary of evidence, the DPP describes Lukwago as an advocate who was previously a member of the Democratic Party before joining the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and later becoming President of the PFF following a split within the opposition party.
Prosecutors contend that throughout his political career, Lukwago worked closely with Dr. Besigye and other opposition politicians, including Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and Salaam Musumba, whom investigators claim were involved in activities aimed at removing the current government from power.
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 reported to Uganda’s military intelligence that he had been approached in 2021 by Switzerland-based Ugandan Joel Wakhaima to source weapons, military equipment and training for a group allegedly planning to overthrow the government through armed rebellion.
According to prosecutors, Wilson agreed to cooperate with military intelligence as an undercover operative and continued engaging Wakhaima while secretly recording meetings and conversations under the supervision of intelligence officers. Court documents state that Wakhaima later introduced Wilson to Salaam Musumba, who allegedly requested covert communications and intelligence training for members of her political group.
The prosecution alleges that Musumba subsequently invited Wilson to a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, attended by Lukwago, Ssemujju Nganda, Samuel Lubega Mukaku, Charles Rwomushana and others. Prosecutors contend that discussions at the meeting centred on recruiting Wilson as a military and security adviser for an alleged plot to overthrow the government, and that Lukwago was aware of those discussions but failed to report them to authorities. The prosecution says covert audio and video recordings made during the meeting will be relied upon during the trial.
The indictment further alleges that Wilson later met Dr. Besigye in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 29, 2023, where discussions allegedly included plans to overthrow the government through armed means.
According to the prosecution, the meeting involved requests for military assistance, paramilitary training, counterfeit Ugandan currency, and the alleged use of ricin poison against targeted government officials.
The DPP further alleges that Dr. Besigye provided Wilson with a list of military installations and security facilities that were allegedly identified as potential targets in the event of an armed rebellion.
Prosecutors also claim that subsequent meetings held in Geneva in January and June 2024 focused on recruiting and training supporters in intelligence gathering, surveillance, drone operations and paramilitary tactics. The prosecution alleges that Wilson provided US$5,000 to facilitate travel for selected recruits to Kisumu, Kenya, for the alleged training programme.
According to the indictment, Lukwago knew about the Kisumu training, participated in mobilising participants and authorised the travel of PFF members, including Samuel Makokha, but failed to report the matter.
The prosecution further alleges that Lukwago was aware of a November 2024 meeting in Nairobi attended by Dr. Besigye, Hajji Obeid Lutale, Wilson and another individual introduced as a representative of a Kurdish company. Prosecutors claim discussions included requests for surface-to-air missiles, drones and other weapons, as well as an alleged plot to assassinate President Yoweri Museveni and trigger civil disobedience as part of efforts to overthrow the government.
The DPP contends that Lukwago deliberately failed to disclose information about those meetings despite allegedly knowing about them. During the trial, prosecutors intend to rely on covert audio and video recordings, forensic examinations of electronic devices, WhatsApp communications, immigration records, travel histories and other documentary evidence.
The prosecution also plans to rely on evidence gathered following the arrest of Dr. Besigye and Hajji Lutale in Nairobi on November 17, 2024.
The two were initially charged before the General Court Martial before their case was transferred to the civilian courts following the Supreme Court decision in Attorney General v Michael Kabaziguruka and Others. They have since been committed to the High Court for trial on substantive treason charges.
Following the committal proceedings, Lukwago’s lawyer, Medard Lubega Ssegona, asked the court to allow his client to travel under prison guard to Fortis Memorial Research Institute Hospital in India for specialised treatment, with his wife accompanying him as his caretaker at his own expense.
In the alternative, the defence asked the court to order prison authorities to replace Lukwago’s specialised electrically powered medical pillow, which they said had been dismantled by prison officers, and to provide him with a well-ventilated environment.
Addressing the court, Lukwago said his health had deteriorated while in prison and argued that prison medical staff could only monitor his condition after specialists at Mulago National Referral Hospital recommended surgery. He said he relies on sedatives to sleep and appealed to the state to facilitate the recommended surgery, saying he was prepared to stand trial once his health had improved.
State Attorney Judith Nyamwiza opposed the applications, arguing that the Magistrates Court lacked jurisdiction to grant some of the orders sought and that such applications should instead be made before the High Court. Chief Magistrate Basemera agreed, saying the filing of the indictment by the DPP had effectively ended the Magistrates Court’s jurisdiction over 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. Regarding the medical pillow, the magistrate said prison authorities had raised security concerns after reportedly finding a recording gadget inside it. She advised Lukwago’s family and lawyers to engage the Uganda Prisons Service and explain how the device operates.
However, Ssegona rejected the allegation, insisting the pillow contained no recording equipment and challenging the authorities to produce the alleged gadget. He argued that if prison officials had dismantled the medical device without justification, the state should replace it. Meanwhile, Dr. Besigye and Hajji Lutale are expected to appear before the High Court on July 29, 2026, when their treason trial is scheduled to begin-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
