In a significant escalation of one of Uganda's most high-profile political-legal battles, the Director of Public Prosecutions has formally indicted former Kampala Lord Mayor and People's Front for Freedom president Erias Lukwago on charges of misprision of treason. A magistrate has committed him to the High Court for trial, marking another chapter in a saga that began with a contested operation at his Wakaliga home.

The development comes roughly one month after Lukwago's June 15 arrest, when armed operatives entered his residence and took him into custody — an incident family members and colleagues described as an enforced disappearance, given initial denials from some security agencies about his whereabouts. The government has framed the operation as a lawful arrest.

At the time, Lukwago was acting as lead counsel for jailed opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye and was preparing to serve court documents related to a human rights suit. Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba confirmed the detention on social media in posts that drew widespread condemnation, amplifying accusations of military overreach into civilian and judicial matters.

Lukwago was later charged at Makindye Chief Magistrate's Court under Section 25 of the Penal Code Act. Prosecutors allege that between 2021 and November 2024, in Nairobi and Kampala, Lukwago knew of treasonous intentions involving Besigye and co-accused individuals but failed to report them to authorities. He has consistently denied the charges.

The case has raised questions about the separation of powers and judicial independence. Legal bodies including the Uganda Law Society and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association have expressed concern over the initial detention, and Lukwago's health reportedly deteriorated during remand at Luzira Prison, prompting bail applications that were deferred amid crowded court proceedings. The trial now moves to the High Court, where procedural fairness and evidentiary standards will face closer scrutiny.