Political and governance analyst Godber Tumushabe has sharply criticised the handling of the arrest of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, saying the incident reflects what he described as a deepening crisis in Uganda’s governance and security structures.
Speaking during a live radio interview on Thursday, Tumushabe said the manner in which Lukwago was arrested points to a broader institutional breakdown that has increasingly blurred the line between civilian law enforcement and military operations.
“The brutal arrest of Erias Lukwago is only a manifestation of the continued degeneration of the system,” Tumushabe said, linking the incident to what he termed growing state overreach.
He further accused the Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba of operating with increasing disregard for established procedures since assuming office.
According to Tumushabe, recent security operations have raised concerns over accountability within the country’s military leadership.
“The Chief of Defence Forces has been acting with a high level of impunity and disregard since being appointed as CDF,” he stated, suggesting that institutional checks on military authority were weakening.
Tumushabe also questioned the conduct of personnel allegedly deployed under Muhoozi’s command, arguing that the methods used during the arrest signaled a shift towards excessive force as a tool of intimidation.
“It appears that whoever Gen Muhoozi deploys may be operating under instructions to use maximum violence in order to inflict significant trauma on society as a tool of control,” he said.
The remarks come amid ongoing public debate over Lukwago’s arrest, which opposition figures and civil society groups have described as heavy-handed and politically motivated.
The incident has intensified scrutiny of the role of military units in civilian-related operations, especially in politically sensitive cases.