The Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has sparked fresh controversy after claiming that his wife, Charlotte, persuaded him to release detained lawyer and opposition figure Erias Lukwago.
In a series of posts on X, Muhoozi stated that he had initially held Lukwago but would now hand him over to police authorities following his wife’s intervention.
“My beloved wife Charlotte has convinced me to release the criminal Lukwago. I will release him because of my love for her,” he wrote.
The remarks come amid growing outrage over Lukwago’s alleged abduction earlier this week. The senior lawyer and former Kampala Lord Mayor was reportedly seized from his home in Wakaliga by armed operatives, sparking condemnation from legal bodies, opposition leaders, and human rights activists.
In a separate post, Muhoozi used inflammatory language, stating: “Today, I will release this IDIOT to police. I have run out of diapers. Never test me again!”
The comments have further intensified criticism, with observers questioning both the legality of Lukwago’s detention and the conduct of senior military leadership.
Opposition figures argue that Lukwago’s arrest was politically motivated, linking it to his legal work representing detained opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye.
At the time of his arrest, Lukwago was reportedly preparing legal action against Muhoozi over alleged threats made on social media.
The Uganda Law Society and other legal experts have raised concerns about due process, noting that Lukwago’s reported detention by military personnel, rather than formal police arrest, undermines established legal procedures.
Muhoozi’s admission that he personally ordered or oversaw Lukwago’s detention—and his suggestion that the decision to release him was influenced by a private conversation—has added a new dimension to the unfolding controversy.
Critics say this raises serious questions about the separation of powers and adherence to the rule of law.