The proceedings in the misprision of treason case against the former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, have been deferred to Tuesday next week, after Uganda Prisons Services (UPS) authorities informed court that Lukwago was unwell and undergoing specialised medical investigations and treatment at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
While addressing journalists after a closed door court session Lukwago’s lawyer, Medard Lubega Sseggona, said they agreed with the prisons decision to enable Lukwago undergo the investigations and treatment.
“Prisons have written to court and we are informed by the court also, that the Lord Mayor Emeritus could not be produced in court because of the medical investigations that are going on, which are specialised” he said.
Sseggona revealed that Lukwago is currently very weak, with the prisons and medical authorities, cautious of bringing him to court in a frail state.
“We were in Mulago this morning and we confirmed that he is weak, we want to request you to bear with the situation, that is where we are” he said.
The Makindye Chief Magistrate Sarah Anne Basemera, deferred the hearing of the case until Tuesday next week.
Last week, Basemera rejected Lukwago’s bail application electronically noting that the gravity of the national security offense, outweighed the defense arguments of chronic medical conditions that require specialized care for his release.
However, her worship Basemera ordered the Officer in Charge of Murchison Bay Prison and the Commissioner General of Prisons to facilitate Lukwago’s referral to Mulago National Referral Hospital for a comprehensive medical assessment and treatment, within 24 hours of the ruling.
Basemera further allowed Lukwago’s wife and one lawyer to access him during the referral and treatment process at all times.
Lukwago, who is also the acting president of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party is facing charges of misprision of treason, alongside Frank Kihehere, Joel Wakayima, Dr Kizza Besigye , Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulega among others.
According to prosecution, between 2021 and November 2024, across various places including Kampala and Nairobi, Kenya, Lukwago knew that high-profile opposition leaders including Col. (Rtd.) Dr. Kizza Besigye, Joel Wakayima, Frank Kihere Atukunda, and Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, intended to commit treason but deliberately failed to inform authorities or prevent the crime.
