Former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has resurfaced after more than two days in detention, with new reports confirming he is now being held at Kira Divisional Police headquarters in Wakiso District.
According to an NTV report, family members, friends, and supporters began gathering at the police station on Wednesday, shortly after learning that Lukwago had been dropped there by security operatives.
The development marks the first confirmed information about his whereabouts since his dramatic abduction earlier this week.
Lukwago had been missing for over 48 hours after he was seized from his home in Wakaliga, Kampala, in what his allies described as a military-led operation.
Witnesses said armed personnel stormed his residence in the early hours of Monday, forcing entry into his bedroom before taking him away without presenting any arrest warrant.
The incident sparked widespread concern across Uganda’s political and legal circles, with opposition figures and lawyers accusing the state of bypassing due process.
His party, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), had earlier described the incident as an abduction, saying he was taken to an unknown location by security operatives.
Transfer Raises Fresh Questions
While Lukwago’s reappearance at a police facility has eased fears over his immediate safety, questions remain over why he was held incommunicado for two days and the legal basis of his detention.
Authorities have yet to issue a detailed statement explaining:
The charges, if any, against him
The role of the military in his arrest
Why he was not presented before a court within the constitutional timeline
Legal analysts argue that transferring him to a police station after prolonged detention elsewhere could indicate an attempt to regularize an initially irregular arrest.
Political Tensions Persist
The arrest is widely linked to Lukwago’s role as a lawyer for opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and his reported efforts to pursue legal action against Uganda’s military leadership.
The case has intensified scrutiny on Uganda’s handling of opposition figures, particularly ahead of a politically sensitive period.
Civil society groups and legal bodies have continued to demand either his immediate release or formal arraignment in court.