The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the unconditional release of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), acting President Erias Lukwago, following his seizure from his home by Special Forces Command (SFC) operatives.
Members of the law society, led by the acting council secretary Mr Babu Ssali while addressing journalists on Monday evening, said they the society has set up a Rule of Law Committee team to pursue domestic and international legal action against the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi kainerugaba, if he is not released within 24 hours.
“We note with great alarm your public statements including, I have captured a fool and taken him into the basement and this one will land Kiswahili. Further still, please serve the papers and I will arrest both you and whoever serves them” he said.
He added, “These statements coupled with the military invasion of advocate Lukwago’s home constitute the highest act of intimidation, harassment and obstruction of a lawyer in the discharge of his professional duties”.
Mr Babu noted that Lukwago’s arrest, who is the lead lawyer for veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale in their treason case, was an attack on the legal profession and the rule of law, aimed at intimidating lawyers from handling sensitive political cases in the country.
“The reference to the basement evokes Uganda’s dark history of illegal detention and torture absolutely prohibited under Article 44 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. Even during a state of emergency, the UPDF must be reminded in the strongest terms that under Article 208-2, it is subordinate to civilian authority, non-partisan and has no role whatsoever in intimidating, threatening or arresting members of the Bar for performing their constitutional and professional duties including service of court process” he said.
Mr Babu said Gen Muhoozi’s reference to the summons and whoever serves them, constitutes an obstruction of an officer of court in the performance of their judicial functions.
“It is contempt of court and an attack on the independence of the judiciary contrary to Articles 28-12, 128 – 2 and 128-3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda” he said.
On Monday, following the Lukwago’s seizure, Gen Muhoozi posted a photo of Lukwago in his basement, dressed in a white t-shirt, with a checked black and white scarf wrapped around his face.
Following the raid at his home, Gen Muhoozi posted an arrest alert on his X, alluding to a fresh arrest of an individual who recently summoned him to court.
“I have captured a FOOL and taken him to the basement!…….We are still warming up the fool. Pictures soon. This one will learn Kiswahili” he posted.”
He further questioned where Lukwago, Dr Besigye’s lawyer got the guts to summon him in court, yet the only authority that has the power in the country to summon him, is his father president Yoweri Museveni.
“Ngu he summoned me?? How do you DARE to utter those words? Only Mzee can summon me. This fool will learn the lesson he has been begging for” Muhoozi posted.
