Former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago was in a weak and distressed condition after his detention, with claims that he had been beaten and deprived of proper care, according to Dr Michael Lulume Bayiga, Deputy Executive Chairperson of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) in charge of Buganda.
Speaking during an appearance on Sanyuka TV on Thursday, June 18, Bayiga said his interaction with Lukwago after the reported abduction revealed troubling details about his physical state and treatment while in custody.
“For the first time, we have details of a leader of a political party being tortured by Mr. Muhoozi and he bleeds from his nose,” Bayiga said, linking the incident to Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, whose role has been at the centre of political controversy surrounding the detention.
According to Bayiga, Lukwago appeared physically weakened and unwell when he was later seen after the period of detention, raising concern among opposition leaders and legal advocates.
“Erias Lukwago was very weak and unwell. Beyond that, he had reportedly been beaten, and the food he was being given was in poor condition,” he said.
Bayiga further alleged that Lukwago personally recounted fears over his safety while in custody, describing uncertainty over his survival under the conditions he was subjected to.
“He told me he does not know whether he will survive this situation, and he does not know what he has been fed,” Bayiga added.
The claims add to mounting political tension following Lukwago’s reported abduction from his home in Kampala earlier in June, an incident that has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, legal bodies, and human rights advocates who have demanded accountability and transparency over his detention.
The incident has further intensified debate over the handling of opposition-linked arrests in Uganda, with critics arguing that recent operations reflect a pattern of excessive force and lack of due process.
Lukwago, a long-time opposition lawyer and former Kampala mayor, remains a central figure in Uganda’s political landscape, often representing high-profile opposition causes.