Kenyan lawyer and former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi has sharply criticised the criminal charges facing Ugandan opposition lawyer and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, describing the developments as evidence of what he terms a collapse of judicial independence in Uganda.
Lukwago is currently facing a charge of misprision of treason following his arrest by military personnel and subsequent arraignment before a magistrate’s court in Kampala.
The case has triggered regional debate over the role of security agencies in civilian legal matters and the treatment of opposition-linked figures.
Reacting to the matter, Havi questioned the willingness of Uganda’s judiciary to entertain such charges against a senior advocate.
“A Magistrate/Judge in Uganda will entertain the presentation of such a charge by the DPP as against an Advocate!” Havi stated.
He went further to draw a controversial historical comparison, arguing that Uganda’s current governance environment is more troubling than past authoritarian periods.
“Uganda is worse off now than it was under Idi Amin. At least Amin never made any pretense to uphold the rule of law,” he said.
Havi also accused the current administration of misusing legal institutions to justify what he termed systemic abuse of power.
“Museveni and his son are abusing the rule of law in justifying their atrocities,” he added.
The remarks come amid heightened political tension in Uganda, where opposition figures and government critics have increasingly raised concern over arrests involving military agencies and charges linked to treason-related offences.
Lukwago’s case has particularly drawn attention due to his profile as a senior lawyer and long-time opposition figure, as well as his past representation of high-profile political clients.