The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has protested against the alleged politically motivated arrest and detention of Advocate Erias Lukwago.
In a letter addressed to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on June 17th, 2026, president of the society Isaac. K. Ssemakadde said that pursuant to section 3 (C) of the Uganda Law Society Act 305, the society registers their strongest protest, condemnation and complaint against the DPP for entertaining, sanctioning or proceeding with the charging of Lukwago, a senior member of the Bar, and lead counsel for Dr. Kiiza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale in the ongoing treason trial.
“This action constitutes a blatant and unconstitutional political persecution prohibited under Article 43 (2)( a ) of the constitution, which explicitly states that nothing in the general limitations clause shall permit political persecution,” he said adding that it further violates Articles 120 (5) and 120 (6) which mandate that the DPP exercise prosecutorial authority with impartiality, integrity and free from partisan or political direction.
Ssemakadde said that as detailed in their protest note addressed to the Chief of Defense Forces, Advocate Lukwago was abducted from his home by UPDF operatives in circumstances directly linked to his attempts to serve court process in the Besigye matter.
“Public statements by high ranking military officials boasting of his capture and detention, followed by the enabling silence of government and judiciary authorities have left no doubt that this is not a legitimate criminal matter but a targeted intimidation of counsel for performing his constitutional and professional role,” he noted.
He added that the subsequent preferment of misprision of treason charges against Lukwago, offences that demand the highest evidentiary threshold, represents a gross abuse of process.
“Serving court documents or vigorously defensing a client in a high profile political trial does not , and cannot, constitute treason, this is a classic law fare, the weaponization of criminal justice institutions to harass, cripple, and neutralize the defense team of political opponents,” Ssemakadde added.
Ssemakadde emphasized that an attack on one advocate is an attack on the entire Bar and on the rule of law.
“The profession demands the immediate and unconditional withdraw of charges against Advocate Erias Lukwago, full disclosure of his treatment in detention, and a public undertaking that prosecutors will cease using their offices to advance partisan political objectives,” he state.
He reminded the DPP that last year upon assuming of office, the society warned the DPP of the urgent need to stop the abuse of procedural discretion.
“Our criminal justice systems now a police to prison pipe line for dissenters, you have not replied, that silence violates Article 43 (2) (a), international fair trial norms and the independence of the legal profession,” Ssemakadde added.
Ssemakadde warned that the society will vigorously oppose the charges in court through all available procedural and constitutional avenues, including applications to declare them an abuse of process, violation of fair trial rights under Article 28, and unconstitutional political persecution,
“We shall take the struggle to the streets, the legal profession in coordination with other pro-democracy forces shall picket the DPPs offices at every single day, commencing immediately and without interruption until these charges are unconditionally withdrawn,” he noted.
He again warned that failure to withdraw these charges will be viewed as complicity in ongoing assault on the independence of the Bar, judiciary and the rule of law itself.
“We reserve all the legal, professional and constitutional remedies, including escalation to regional and international bodies, we expect your urgent response and action within the shortest time possible, the eyes of the nation and the international community are on the DPPs office,” Ssemakadde stated.
