Former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has appealed for urgent medical attention, telling the Makindye Chief Magistrates Court that his health is deteriorating while on remand at Luzira Murchison Bay prison. In an emotional address delivered via Zoom on Tuesday, Lukwago said his condition had worsened due to prison conditions, leaving him in fear for his life.
Appearing before Grade I magistrate Aidah Nanjala, Lukwago said he is battling multiple serious health complications that require immediate intervention, as advised by his doctors. He told court that his condition has left him in constant pain and dependent on medication, adding that failure to access specialised care could prove fatal.
“As we speak today, my life is in danger. If these are not attended to, I have a problem with breathing. I have a lung condition with what they call residual mild cylindrical bronchitis. It is permanent damage on my lungs and once I am deprived of oxygen, I suffer breathlessness,” Lukwago said.
He added that the prison environment has worsened his respiratory condition, saying poor ventilation has made it difficult for him to breathe. Lukwago told court that medical advice requires him to stay in a well-ventilated environment, which he said is not available in his current detention setting.
Lukwago further detailed complications arising from a previous spinal surgery, saying he continues to suffer from cervical radiculitis and related conditions. He told court that the condition stems from a cervical disc replacement surgery he underwent on April 29, 2024, and has since required continuous medical monitoring.
“I have a residual cervical radiculitis following a cervical 6-7 disc replacement surgery and the adjacent level C5-6 disc disease. That is the cervical problem I am enduring ever since I underwent a surgical operation, which I have been nursing all through,” he said.
According to Lukwago, doctors have recommended that he be flown to India for further evaluation by his spine surgeons, particularly due to persistent upper limb complications. He said attempts to carry out further MRI investigations locally have been limited by uncertainty over the compatibility of the implants used in his earlier surgery.
In addition to his respiratory and spinal conditions, Lukwago told court that he has been diagnosed with a hernia requiring urgent surgery, persistent severe headaches and an irregular heartbeat, all of which need immediate medical attention. He warned that without timely intervention, his condition could rapidly worsen.
“In a nutshell, Your Worship, I am sentenced to death. If no rescue is made to get my situation addressed, as advised by the consultants from Mulago, it’s a death sentence for me,” he said.
In an emotional appeal, Lukwago asked the court to consider his situation, expressing fear of dying in pain if no action is taken. He said the level of suffering he is enduring has become unbearable, urging the court to allow access to appropriate medical care.
“If I may make a last prayer, Your Worship, instead of taking me through all this pain, I be put on some palliative care so that I die a less painful death. Otherwise, the pain is too much. I know I will die, but I wouldn’t want to die a painful death,” he said.
Magistrate Nanjala adjourned the case to July 16 for further mention and hearing of Lukwago’s bail application, which will be handled by the substantive presiding magistrate, Sarah Anne Basemera.
Lukwago is facing charges of misprision of treason alongside several co-accused, including Frank Kihehere, Joel Wakayima, Dr Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulega. The charges relate to allegations that the accused were aware of plans to commit treason but failed to report or prevent the offence.
According to the prosecution, the alleged acts occurred between 2021 and November 2024 in various locations, including Kampala and Nairobi. The state contends that Lukwago and others knew of intentions by opposition figures to commit treason but did not inform authorities as required by law.
