KAMPALA — Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has announced that opposition politician and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago will be released from his custody in the basement and handed over to police, saying the decision was influenced by his wife, Charlotte, an increasingly influential member of the first family.
In a series of posts published on Tuesday on X, the Chief of Defence Forces said he had decided to let Lukwago go after initially adopting a hardline stance following the opposition figure’s detention.
“Today, I will release this IDIOT to police. I have run out of diapers. Never test me again!” Kainerugaba posted alongside an image.
Moments later, he attributed the decision to his wife.
“My beloved wife Charlotte has convinced me to release the criminal Lukwago. I will release him because of my love for her,” he wrote.
The announcement marked a dramatic shift from the combative rhetoric Kainerugaba had directed at Lukwago just a day earlier.
On Monday, the First Son declared: “I’m proud of ALL the hurt and pain I will inflict on the CRIMINAL LUKWAGO!”
His comments followed the detention of Lukwago by armed soldiers after the veteran opposition leader reportedly attempted to serve court documents connected to previous threats made against jailed four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye by Kainerugaba.
Responding to a plea from supporter Tumukunde Tonny, who urged him to show mercy and consider Lukwago’s health condition, Kainerugaba thanked the supporter for what he described as a respectful approach.
“Tumukunde, thank you for your message and civility. Advise Lukwago to learn from you. He has been fighting me with Besigye for many decades. We are going to finish it now,” he said.
Kainerugaba also responded to comments from former MP Samuel Odonga Otto, indicating that his grievances with Lukwago were longstanding.
“My brother Hon. Otto, you are one of the few people I respect. Lukwago had this coming, it was a long time coming. We haven’t started on him yet,” he wrote.
Lukwago, one of the country’s most prominent opposition figures, has for years been a fierce critic of President Yoweri Museveni and the ruling establishment. He also serves as a lawyer for veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
The detention sparked widespread public debate, with opposition supporters, human rights activists and government supporters expressing sharply differing views online. Critics questioned the legality of the arrest, while supporters of Kainerugaba defended the move and praised his decision to release Lukwago.
Kainerugaba has previously accused Lukwago of contributing to Kampala’s governance challenges during his tenure as Lord Mayor, including persistent flooding and allegations of corruption. Lukwago has consistently rejected such accusations.
By time of publishing this report, no formal charges against Lukwago had been publicly announced. Kainerugaba indicated only that the opposition politician would be transferred to police custody for further processing.
It should be remembered that there were calls for Muhoozi to forgive and release Lukwago on grounds that his health condition was “worrying”, as reported Here.
But Muhoozi had continued with his threats, including against Ssemujju Nganda who told him he was not afraid of being killed by Museveni’s son as reported Here.
Meanwhile, Lukwago’s wife likened Muhoozi to Idi Amin as she narrated how Lukwago was grabbed from their bedroom. (See Details Here and There).
