The Criminal Division of High court in Kampala presided over by Justice David Matovu, has dismissed the bail application of former Kampala Lord Mayor and President of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), Erias Lukwago over lack of a certified medical report from the Uganda Prisons Service (UPS).
Justice Matovu in a ruling delivered online on Thursday, noted that even though Lukwago who had applied for bail to enable him seek medical treatment in India, fulfilled most of the requirements for bail, he lacked a confirmation from the prison authorities confirming that they were unable to manage his condition.
“Court finds that the Applicant meets most of the requirements to be admitted on bail save for the lack of medical documents certified by the medical officer at the prison where the Applicant is held confirming that the prison medical services are not capable of treating the applicant” he said.
Justice Matovu further noted that the bail application before him, was filed in relation to Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court Criminal Case No. 0762 of 2026, which ceased to exist after the accused was committed to the High Court for trial.
“The Deputy Registrar of this court is yet to allocate the freshly committed case file relating to the Applicant to any particular Judge, this court will exercise it’s discretion by not granting bail in order to give whichever judge that will be allocated this matter to effectively manage the case” he said.
While dismissing the application, Justice Matovu directed the Deputy Registrar to follow up on the committal paper from the lower court and allocate Lukwago’s Criminal Session case to any of the Judges in the division for further management.
According to the medical reports presented to court, a team of five consultants at Mulago National Referral Hospital recommended, among other interventions, a spinal review and specialised treatment by his primary spine surgeons in India.
Lukwago further argued that prison medical facilities could not adequately manage his condition and that continued detention posed a serious risk to his health.
Lukwago was recently committed to the High Court for trial on charges of misprision of treason, contrary to Section 25 of the Penal Code Act.
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 presented in court, 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.
