A tense standoff unfolded at Kira Divisional Police Headquarters on Wednesday as police officers dispersed journalists, family members, and supporters of former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, shortly after his release process at the facility.
Eyewitnesses said security personnel moved in to clear the growing crowd that had gathered outside the station since morning, with many waiting for official confirmation on Lukwago’s status following his prolonged detention.
According to an officer involved in the operation, the dispersal was prompted by concerns over access to the police facility.
The officer said the large gathering was interfering with normal operations and discouraging members of the public from entering the station.
“Those who had gathered over Lukwago’s detention were scaring away other people who wanted to access the police facility,” the officer said.
The clearance operation saw journalists pushed away from the main entrance, while relatives and political allies who had camped outside were ordered to leave the premises.
The move sparked brief moments of tension as some supporters demanded clarity on Lukwago’s condition and legal status.
Lukwago, who has been at the centre of a high-profile detention saga following his arrest from his Wakaliga home earlier in the week, had been held at the station after being transferred there by security operatives.
His arrest, which his allies have consistently described as an abduction, has drawn significant attention from political leaders, legal practitioners, and civil society groups questioning the legality and handling of his detention.