Kawempe South Member of Parliament Elias Nalukoola has strongly condemned the abduction of opposition lawyer Erias Lukwago, warning that the incident signals a deepening crisis in Uganda’s rule of law and constitutional order.
In a sharply worded statement issued on Tuesday, Nalukoola described the seizure of Lukwago from his home by armed security operatives as unlawful and alarming.
He argued that the targeting of a senior legal practitioner undermines the very foundation of justice and threatens the safety of all citizens.
“It is unthinkable,” Nalukoola said. “The abduction of Counsel Erias Lukwago violates the Constitution. When the state targets lawyers, it shatters the social contract.”
Lukwago, a prominent opposition figure and legal representative in several high-profile political cases, was reportedly taken from his residence in Kampala by soldiers believed to be attached to the Special Forces Command.
His whereabouts remain unknown, despite mounting pressure from opposition leaders and the legal fraternity.
The situation escalated further after Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, shared photos on social media showing a visibly distressed man believed to be Lukwago, blindfolded while in detention.
The images have sparked outrage across political and civil society spaces, with critics accusing the military leadership of endorsing unlawful detention and psychological intimidation.
Nalukoola referenced the photos in his remarks, describing them as evidence of a troubling abuse of power. “If the defender of rights has no rights, who is secure?” he posed, calling for immediate transparency from state authorities.
Legal experts and opposition figures have echoed similar concerns, warning that the incident reflects a pattern of increasing hostility toward lawyers representing politically sensitive clients.
Lukwago had reportedly been preparing legal action against senior military officials at the time of his arrest.
Nalukoola has now joined a growing list of leaders demanding urgent government accountability. “The state must immediately disclose his location,” he insisted.