Lawyer and politician Yvonne Mpambara has criticized the reported abduction of Kampala lawyer and opposition figure Erias Lukwago, describing the incident as painful and a reflection of what she termed continued state failure in protecting citizens’ rights.
Her remarks come hours after Lukwago was allegedly taken from his Wakaliga residence in a dawn security operation involving armed personnel, an incident that has drawn widespread political reaction and renewed scrutiny of Uganda’s security practices.
In her statement, Mpambara expressed deep concern over the use of state power in handling political and legal actors, accusing the leadership of diverting authority away from governance priorities.
“This is so painful to watch. I am so sorry that the State continues to fail Ugandans. It’s so disappointing that the CDF has an opportunity to exercise the power he has to steer this country’s governance into the right direction but chooses to terrorize ordinary citizens for fulfilling their duty,” she said.
Her comments directly reference Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has recently been linked to online statements widely interpreted as referencing the operation, although no official confirmation has been provided regarding Lukwago’s detention or location.
Mpambara further escalated her criticism by calling for stronger civic resistance against what she described as systemic brutality, urging economic disruption as a form of protest.
“We need better industrial action against state brutality. We have to paralyze the economy of this nation until leaders start to serve the people,” she added.
The statement has added to growing tension following Monday’s operation, which reportedly involved armed operatives surrounding Lukwago’s home before whisking him away to an undisclosed location.
The absence of official communication from security agencies has intensified public concern and speculation over the legality and justification of the action.
Lukwago, a senior lawyer and prominent opposition-linked figure, has long been involved in high-profile legal representation for political actors, placing him at the centre of several contentious national cases.
Civil society groups and political commentators have continued to demand transparency, calling for authorities to clarify the grounds of his detention and ensure access to legal representation.