Former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has been committed to the High court for trial on charges of misprision of treason, alongside several co-accused, including Dr Kizza Besigye, Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulega, Frank Kihehere Atukunda and Joel Wakayima.
The committal was made on Thursday by Makindye Chief Magistrate Sarah Basemera, who ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient grounds for the case to proceed to trial. Lukwago has been on remand as investigations into the matter continued.
The charges stem from allegations that the accused persons were aware of plans to commit treason but failed to report the alleged plot or take steps to prevent it, as required under the law.
Court declines medical request
During the proceedings, Lukwago’s lawyers, led by Medard Sseggona, asked court to order his transfer to Fortis Memorial Research Institute in India for specialised medical treatment under guard.
The defence further requested that Lukwago be allowed to travel with a caretaker, preferably his wife at his own cost, and be granted access to visitors while undergoing treatment. They also sought assurances that he would receive consular support and be returned to Luzira prison upon recovery.
However, the magistrate declined the request, ruling that the application could not be granted at this stage.
State outlines case
According to the indictment, the State alleges that Lukwago, by virtue of his position as a leader within the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), was aware of several meetings involving individuals accused of planning to use force to overthrow the government.
Prosecutors contend that despite this knowledge, he did not report the alleged plans or take steps to prevent their execution.
The State further argues that Lukwago has long been a critic of the ruling government and has participated in political activities aimed at leadership change, alongside figures such as Besigye, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and Salaam Musumba.
The indictment also details the role of Dr Besigye, described as a retired UPDF officer and founding member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), who has for years opposed the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.
Key witness and alleged plot
The prosecution’s case relies heavily on the alleged activities of Andrew Wilson, a private security company proprietor said to have become central to investigations into the suspected plot.
According to court documents, Wilson was in 2021 approached by Joel Wakayima, a Ugandan based in Switzerland, who allegedly sought firearms, weapons and tactical training to support efforts to overthrow the government.
The State claims Wilson declined the request after realising it was criminal and instead reported the matter to Ugandan authorities, who then asked him to act as an informant.
“The UPDF officer requested AW to become a government spy and to continue engaging JW in order to establish the details of the plot,” the indictment states.
Prosecutors say Wilson was subsequently linked to intelligence officers at the then Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), under whose supervision he continued interacting with individuals allegedly involved while sharing information with authorities.
Meetings and alleged coordination
The indictment alleges that Wilson later interacted with several opposition figures, including Salaam Musumba, Ssemujju Nganda, Lubega Mukaku and Charles Rwomushana, during meetings where discussions on intelligence gathering and military support allegedly took place.
It further claims that Wilson met Besigye in Geneva, Switzerland, where discussions reportedly centred on acquiring military assistance, training recruits in intelligence and paramilitary tactics, and mobilising resources.
According to the prosecution, subsequent meetings, including one in Nairobi, Kenya, allegedly involved discussions on weapons, drones and plans to attack government institutions.
“The accused person knew that KB and Hajji Obeid Lutale travelled to Nairobi and attended a meeting whose sole aim was to overturn the Government of Uganda, but he did not report it,” the State alleges.
Evidence and timeline
The prosecution says it intends to rely on audio and video recordings allegedly made by Wilson, electronic communication records, travel documents and forensic reports.
Court documents indicate that Wilson covertly recorded meetings and later handed over the materials to investigators for analysis.
“AW covertly recorded both video and audio of relevant meetings and shared these recordings with intelligence officers,” the indictment states.
The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 2021 and November 2024 in various locations, including Kampala and Nairobi.
The State contends that Lukwago and his co-accused had knowledge of plans to commit treason and shared a common intention but failed to report the matter or prevent its execution.
The case will now proceed to the High court for trial.
