When Erias Lukwago appeared before the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday via video link from Luzira Prison, the proceedings quickly transcended the legal arguments surrounding the criminal charges against him.
Instead, they evolved into a profound question confronting Uganda’s justice system: What obligation does the State owe to a prisoner whose doctors say requires urgent specialised medical care?
Speaking slowly and at times emotionally, the former Kampala Lord Mayor told court that specialists at Mulago National Referral Hospital had diagnosed him with five chronic medical conditions and advised that he be kept in a well-ventilated environment—conditions he said cannot be met inside prison.
“The consultants are advising me to keep in a well-ventilated place, yet you know the conditions of the prisons. The prisons are not well ventilated,” Lukwago told the court.
His words grew even more emotional as he described what he believes awaits him if his medical situation remains unchanged.
“In the natural course, I am sentenced to death. I am condemned to death. If no rescue is made to get my situation as advised by the consultants, it’s a death sentence for me.”
Then came perhaps the most poignant moment of the hearing.
“If you can take me, my Lord, kindly take me without a lot of pain. Instead of taking me through all this pain, let me be put on some palliative care so that I die a less painful death. Otherwise, the pain is too much.”
For a politician long associated with fiery courtroom arguments and confrontational politics, the plea revealed a strikingly different image—that of a man who says he is fighting for his life.
According to Lukwago, doctors found that he suffers from five serious ailments, among them a herniated disc requiring urgent treatment to prevent further complications.
He also told court that he has permanent lung damage that makes confinement in poorly ventilated environments especially dangerous.
“I have a long complex with what they call residual mild cylindrical bronchitis, which is a permanent damage on my lungs, and once I’m in a place with limited oxygen, I suffer breathlessness,” he said.
Lukwago further disclosed that complications persist following cervical spine surgery he underwent in India in April 2024.
According to his testimony, specialists have diagnosed him with residual cervical radiculopathy following a C6-C7 disc replacement procedure and advised that he return to the surgeons who performed the operation because local doctors are unable to carry out some MRI investigations without confirming the compatibility of the implanted device.
His lead lawyer, Medard Ssegona, urged the court to facilitate urgent specialised treatment.
“The medical report has revealed ailments that need urgent attention, including a herniated disc that requires immediate treatment to avoid further complications,” Ssegona submitted.
The court adjourned proceedings for an hour to consider the request before issuing further directions.
The medical concerns come against the backdrop of a politically sensitive prosecution.
Lukwago was arrested in June after security operatives picked him up from his home as he prepared to serve court documents relating to another case involving opposition leader Kizza Besigye. He later resurfaced before the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court and was charged with misprision of treason before being remanded to Luzira Prison.
Prosecutors allege that between 2021 and November 2024, Lukwago knew of an alleged treason plot involving Dr. Besigye and others but failed to report it to authorities as required by law. Lukwago has denied the charge, telling court that the individuals mentioned by prosecutors were his clients and insisting that he committed no offence.
Since his remand, concerns about his health have increasingly overshadowed the legal proceedings.
His lawyers have argued that he suffers from chronic gastritis, hypertension, respiratory complications and spinal conditions that require continuous medical supervision. They also contend that some of those conditions worsened during his arrest and detention and cannot adequately be managed within the prison system.
The court has previously ordered prison authorities to facilitate medical assessment and treatment, although it declined to release him on bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and ongoing investigations. More recently, the hearing of his bail application was deferred as the court considered issues surrounding his medical condition.
Lukwago’s latest health struggle comes in a turbulent political year.
Months ago, his long tenure as Kampala Lord Mayor came to an end when he lost the mayoral election to Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga, closing a chapter that had seen him become one of the country’s most recognisable opposition leaders after years of legal and political confrontations with the central government.
Yet defeat at the ballot box did not diminish his prominence.
Instead, he remained active as President of the People’s Front for Freedom and continued representing high-profile opposition figures, including Dr. Besigye, placing him once again at the centre of Uganda’s political and legal landscape.
Now, however, the central issue is no longer electoral politics or courtroom strategy.
It is whether the State can continue prosecuting an accused person while simultaneously meeting its constitutional duty to safeguard the life and health of someone in its custody.
That question extends beyond Lukwago himself. It touches on the treatment of prisoners, the rights of accused persons awaiting trial and the balance between criminal justice and human dignity.
The government has maintained the prosecution against Lukwago while the courts continue to supervise the case. Human rights organisations and legal associations, meanwhile, have voiced concern over his detention and prosecution, urging authorities to respect due process and ensure access to appropriate medical care.
As the case resumes, one issue is likely to remain just as significant as the criminal charge itself: whether the State will act swiftly enough to address the medical concerns that Lukwago says have left him fearing for his life.
As Lukwago was rushed from prison to Mulago hospital, Muhoozi said the Kabaka Should Request him to Release him or he hangs him, and that he would take responsibility if the former lord mayor dies. See Details Here and There.
