DP at Heart, a pressure group within the Democratic Party (DP), has condemned the alleged abduction and detention of Counsel Erias Lukwago, the former Kampala Lord Mayor and President of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party, describing it as a serious attack on constitutionalism and the rule of law.

In a statement issued on June 16, DP at Heart spokesperson and DP Secretary for Jinja City, Ismail Kiirya, called on constitutional and human rights institutions, including the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Parliament, the Judiciary, the Uganda Law Society, and the Inspector General of Government, to investigate the matter and take immediate action.

Kiirya said the continued reports of abductions, arbitrary detention, and public humiliation of citizens threaten the rule of law and erode public trust in state institutions.

The group also criticized the silence of key leaders, urging the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, to publicly defend the Constitution, due process, and the rule of law.

“History is watching,” Kiirya said, warning against repeating past mistakes that led to human rights abuses, including the abduction and killing of former Chief Justice Benedicto Kiwanuka.

DP at Heart expressed concern over the targeting of a legal practitioner, arguing that lawyers must be free to represent clients without intimidation. The group further called for accountability from military authorities, including the office of the Chief of Defence Forces, over any alleged involvement in the detention of civilians.

The pressure group demanded Lukwago’s immediate and unconditional release, respect for constitutional safeguards, and an independent investigation into all actions that undermine the rule of law.

“An attack on defenders of constitutional governance is an attack on all citizens,” Kiirya said, urging civil society, religious leaders, and the public to speak out against injustice and defend democratic principles.