Several opposition political parties have strongly condemned the military arrest and alleged torture of Advocate Erias Lukwago, describing it as part of a growing pattern of intimidation targeting lawyers and political leaders.

Addressing journalists at a meeting of political parties held on Thursday, June 18th, 2026, at the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) headquarters on Plot 6, Katonga Road, leaders from ANT, NUP, FDC, UPC, DF, and CMP warned that the actions of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Muhoozi Kainerugaba pose an existential threat to the rule of law.

Hassan Kaps Fungaroo of FDC said the manner in which Lukwago was arrested by the Special Forces Command (SFC) was unlawful.

“If it was a matter of law enforcement, he would have been arrested by police. But the armed forces that went to arrest Erias Lukwago were members of the military, UPDF,” Fungaroo said.

David Lewis Rubongoya of NUP said the abduction formed part of a disturbing pattern and warned that nobody in the country is safe until everyone is.

He condemned the CDF for publicly boasting about torture and sharing pictures of victims on social media.

UPC President Jimmy Akena said the incident was not isolated and called for greater unity among opposition forces.

“What this has done is giving us all of us an opportunity as the opposition to be able to have a fresh conversation,” he noted, adding that no citizen deserved such treatment.

The leaders demanded Lukwago’s immediate release and warned that continued military interference in civilian affairs would not be tolerated.

They called for a broader national dialogue involving all stakeholders to defend constitutionalism and uphold the rule of law.