Uganda army chief boasts of detaining opposition lawyer

Uganda's army chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has publicly boasted about the detention of prominent opposition lawyer and former Kampala mayor Erias Lukwago, an incident that has drawn widespread condemnation and intensified concerns over political repression. Lukwago was taken from his home by armed personnel on Monday, June 15, 2026, as he was preparing to serve court papers on the general.

According to relatives and his political party, the Peoples Front for Freedom, military personnel entered Lukwago's residence in Kampala's Wakaliga neighborhood, forcibly taking him to an undisclosed location. His wife, Zawedde Lubwama Lukwago, described the operation as a violent abduction, alleging she was assaulted when she tried to intervene. She compared the current political climate to the brutal regime of former dictator Idi Amin.

The detention is directly linked to Lukwago's legal work. He is the lead attorney for veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who faces treason charges in Uganda following his alleged abduction from Kenya in November 2024. Lukwago had been attempting to serve General Kainerugaba with a human rights enforcement lawsuit filed by Besigye, stemming from...