Key facts
- Opposition figure Erias Lukwago was detained by armed soldiers in Uganda.
- The arrest was ordered by army chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also the president's son.
Ugandan opposition figure Erias Lukwago was detained by soldiers on the orders of army chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who threatened to inflict "hurt and pain." Lukwago was seeking to serve Kainerugaba with court papers related to threats against another opposition leader.
The detention of a key opposition figure by the military, coupled with threats from the army chief, highlights escalating political tensions and concerns over human rights and democratic processes in Uganda, particularly as the president's son consolidates influence.
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Erias Lukwago, a prominent opposition figure in Uganda and former mayor of the capital, was detained Monday by armed soldiers on the orders of army chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, confirmed the arrest on social media and threatened to inflict "hurt and pain" on Lukwago.
Lukwago's party stated that he was taken from his house after attempting to serve Kainerugaba with court papers. These papers were related to Kainerugaba's alleged threats against another opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, who faces treason charges that his supporters deem politically motivated.
Kainerugaba, increasingly seen as a de facto ruler and potential successor to his father, has been a controversial figure due to past offensive social media posts and assertions that he will become president. Lukwago was acting as attorney for Besigye, who was allegedly abducted in Nairobi and subsequently jailed in Uganda.
The Uganda Law Society has demanded Lukwago's immediate release, calling the arrest a contempt of court processes. Lukwago's wife, Zawedde Lukwago, drew parallels between the current situation and the dictatorship of Idi Amin, expressing strong opposition to Kainerugaba potentially leading the country.