The Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has shifted his stance on the controversial detention of lawyer and opposition figure Erias Lukwago, issuing a new statement that appears to contradict his earlier remarks.
In a post shared on X, Muhoozi dismissed claims that external pressure influenced his decision to release Lukwago, instead attributing it to a mix of personal and spiritual factors.
“Nothing has made me release Lukwago. No pressure from anywhere. I wanted to keep him in my basement forever! It is just Jesus Christ, the Bachwezi and Charlotte,” he wrote.
The statement marks a notable change in tone from his earlier comments, where he had indicated that his wife, Charlotte, had convinced him to release the detained lawyer.
At the time, Muhoozi suggested that his decision was driven by personal affection, stating he would free Lukwago “because of my love for her.”
Lukwago, a senior lawyer and former Kampala Lord Mayor, was reportedly seized from his home in Wakaliga by armed operatives earlier this week.
His arrest sparked widespread condemnation from legal bodies, opposition leaders, and human rights activists, who described the incident as an unlawful abduction.
The latest remarks by Muhoozi have intensified debate over the circumstances of Lukwago’s detention, particularly after the general openly acknowledged holding him in a private location.
Critics argue that such admissions raise serious legal and constitutional questions, especially regarding the role of the military in civilian law enforcement.
Legal experts have also pointed to inconsistencies in Muhoozi’s statements, noting that shifting explanations may undermine public confidence in official accounts of the incident