Tensions have escalated following the alleged arrest of prominent lawyer Erias Lukwago by military personnel, with his wife, Nalongo Zawedde Lubwama, strongly condemning the operation and accusing senior security figures of orchestrating what she described as an unlawful detention.
Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, Zawedde questioned the circumstances under which her husband was taken, insisting that due process was ignored and that no justification had been provided for what she termed a “forced entry and abduction-style arrest.”
She argued that Lukwago, a well-known legal practitioner and public figure, would have complied with a lawful summons if authorities had properly issued one.
“He is a respected figure and a lawyer in Uganda and he would have heeded to summons if at all they needed him. Nothing justifies scaling our walls to kidnap him,” Zawedde said, adding that the incident had revived painful memories of Uganda’s past political repression.
Her remarks appeared to reference recent public comments attributed to Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has on social media claimed involvement in Lukwago’s detention and suggested he was being held in a basement facility.
The statements have triggered widespread concern among human rights advocates and opposition-aligned voices.
Zawedde extended her criticism beyond the immediate incident, warning that Uganda was sliding into a period reminiscent of the country’s authoritarian past.
“We are now witnessing Amin-like days that we’ve only been reading about in history. The Amin era is being regenerated by Gen Muhoozi. It is really bad,” she said.
She further cautioned against any future political succession that normalises such practices, indirectly referring to the broader debate on Uganda’s leadership transition.
“If Gen Muhoozi thinks he will rule us like this after his father Museveni, we’re already saying no,” she added.
The government has not issued an official detailed statement on Lukwago’s whereabouts or the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Security agencies have in recent months faced mounting criticism over alleged abductions of government critics and opposition figures