Security and political analyst Fred Egesa has criticized the manner in which former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago was arrested, saying law enforcement operations should remain lawful, civil, and guided by constitutional procedure, amid growing debate over how security agencies handle political-related detentions.
Egesa said the incident reflects a broader concern about the increasing use of forceful methods during arrests, warning that such approaches risk undermining public trust in security institutions and the rule of law in Uganda’s political environment.
He added that repeated scenes of aggressive arrests could deepen anxiety among citizens and weaken accountability standards expected in democratic governance.
“Arrests are normal, but they must be carried out lawfully and civilly within the existing legal framework. We need to tone down militarism and the inhumane way in which we arrest people.”
He stressed that while security agencies have the mandate to effect arrests, the manner in which they are conducted must respect human dignity and avoid what he described as rising militarism in civilian-facing operations, which he said is becoming more visible in recent years.
“We have moved into a situation where disagreements are often handled through verbal confrontation. People seem to think that the one who talks or insults more wins the day, and it is disappointing. This is the seed we are planting.”
Egesa further warned that normalization of verbal and physical confrontations in public discourse is shaping a dangerous political culture where disagreement is no longer resolved through structured dialogue or legal processes but through aggression, a trend he said risks long-term institutional damage.
It also points to a wider challenge in which political disputes are increasingly amplified through social media and public rhetoric, shaping perceptions of institutions such as the police and judiciary, while potentially normalizing confrontation over dialogue, especially among younger demographics who are highly active online and exposed to polarised narratives in real time across the country in Uganda’s political landscape if not addressed early enough by stakeholders.