The Makindye Chief Magistrate Sarah Anne Basemera has committed the former Kampala Lord Mayor and President of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), Erias Lukwago, to the High Court for trial on charges of misprision of treason, contrary to Section 25 of the Penal Code Act.
On Thursday, Lukwago, who skipped court last week reportedly due to ill-health, was arraigned before the court appearing visibly frail as he was escorted to the court room under tight security.
Prosecution led by senior state attorney Judith Nyamwiza, informed court that investigations into the file were complete and filed an indictment alongside an amended charge sheet, to correct clerical errors, including changing an incorrect case reference year from 206 to 2026 and updating the accused’s particulars to reflect his national identity records, identifying him as “Erias Lukwago alias Ssalongo.”
According to the amended charge sheet, prosecution alleges that between 2021 and November 2024, in Kampala and Nairobi, Lukwago knew that retired Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, Joel Wakaima and Frank Kihehere Atukunda allegedly intended to commit treason but failed to report the information to the relevant authorities or take reasonable steps to prevent the offence.
In the summary of evidence filed on Thursday, prosecution alleges that Lukwago, who leads the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), was aware of a series of meetings held in Belgium, Switzerland and Kenya involving Dr. Besigye and others accused of plotting to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni’s government by force but deliberately failed to report the alleged plans to authorities.
Following the committal, her worship Basemera declined a bail application for Lukwago by his lawyer Medard Lubega Sseggona, to allow him travel to Fortis Memorial Research Institute in India for specialized medical attention under guard and protection.
Basemera argued that following Lukwago’s committal to the High Court, the lower court no longer has jurisdiction over the matter.
She consequently further remanded Lukwago and directed that any subsequent applications, including for bail, be filed before the High Court.
