The former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, has in an emotional address before the Makidye Chief Magistrates Court, appealed for urgent medical care due to his deteriorating health and prison conditions which have left in fear of a painful death, while on remand for misprision of treason charges at Luzira Murchison Bay prison.
When given an opportunity to address the court by the sit in magistrate on Tuesday, Her Worship Aidah Nanjala, Magistrate Grade I, Lukwago who appeared via Zoom revealed to court that he is battling five serious health complications which require urgent medical attention as advised by doctors.
Lukwago told court that he suffers from bronchitis, respiratory complications, a spinal condition, and a neck problem, which have left him in severe pain and dependent on medication to get sleep.
“As we speak today, my life is in danger, if these are not attended to, I have a problem with breathing, I have a lung complex with what they call residual mild cylindrical bronchitis. It is a permanent damage on my lungs and once I am depressed with limited oxygen, I suffer breathlessness” he said.
Lukwago, who is also the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) acting President, informed court that he has been gasping for breathing air since the windows in the prison facilities are closed, and has since been advised by doctors to always stay in a well ventilated environment.
“I have a residual cervical radiculitis following a cervical 6-7 disc replacement surgery and the adjacent level C5-6 disc disease. That is the cervical problem I am enduring ever since I underwent a surgical operation on 29 April 2024, which I have been nursing all through” he said.
Lukwago further informed court that the doctors have since recommended him to be flown to India, for a thorough review by his spine surgeons, in order to re-evaluate him for the persistent upper limbs radiculitis.
“They were unable to repeat the MRI investigations because they were not certain of the compatibility of the implants, the artificial discs that were used for his primary spine surgery” he said.
Lukwago informed court that he had been diagnosed with a hernia requiring urgent surgery, persistent severe headaches, and an irregular heartbeat that also needed immediate medical attention.
“In a nutshell, Your Worship, I am sentenced to death. I am condemned to death. If no rescue is made to get my situation addressed, as advised by the consultants from Mulago, it’s a death sentence for me” he said.
Lukwago added, “And all I can say to Allah, if you are to take me, my Lord, the God who created me, kindly take me without a lot of pain.
If I may make a last prayer, Your Worship, instead of taking me through all this pain, I be put on some palliative care so that I die a less painful death. Otherwise, the pain is too much. I know I will die. I know all of us will die, but I wouldn’t want to die a painful death. I beg to pray”.
The sit in judge for the day, magistrate Nanjala adjourned the hearing of the case until July 16th, when the substantive case’s presiding Magistrate Sarah Anne Basemera for further mention and bail application.
Lukwago, 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.
