Lawyers representing former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago have raised concerns about his deteriorating health while on remand, warning that he faces a possible tuberculosis (TB) infection due to conditions at Luzira prison. The concerns were presented before the Makindye Magistrates Court on Monday, June 22, 2026, during the hearing of Lukwago’s bail application.
Lukwago’s legal team, led by Medard Lubega Sseggona, told court that the former Kampala Lord Mayor remains in fragile health and that his continued detention could expose him to serious medical complications. According to the defence, the prison environment where Lukwago is currently being held presents significant health risks, particularly because of its proximity to inmates suffering from tuberculosis.
“We have a fear of a threat of a TB infection. Whereas the Uganda Prisons authorities are well intentioned in managing this fragile inmate, a TB ward is just close to where he is staying,” Sseggona told court.
The defence further argued that overcrowding within the prison facility has heightened concerns over Lukwago’s wellbeing. Sseggona informed court that the section where his client is detained is congested and that, at one point, a tuberculosis patient had been placed in the same room where Lukwago was being housed.
“It is crowded to the extent that at some point, a TB patient was brought to his room where he is with another inmate, and was managed there until other occupants pushed and he was removed,” he submitted.
Sseggona maintained that any exposure to tuberculosis would have severe consequences for Lukwago because of his current medical condition. He said recent medical assessments had indicated worrying changes in Lukwago’s health, particularly concerning his immune system.
“With his fragile health a TB infection however minute would be catastrophic especially where his blood sample was taken and the results established that his white blood cells have continued to diminish,” he said.
The health concerns formed a central part of the defence team’s arguments in support of Lukwago’s application for bail. The former Kampala Lord Mayor was last week charged with misprision of treason, an offence he denied before court. Following his arraignment, he was remanded to Luzira prison until June 23, 2026.
The case has attracted considerable public interest because Lukwago is the president of the People’s Front for Freedom and is also part of the legal team representing Dr Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale in a separate treason-related case. His lawyers argue that his medical condition, public standing and demonstrated willingness to comply with court processes should be sufficient grounds for the court to grant him bail.
However, the anticipated ruling on the bail application was deferred after the Chief Magistrate indicated that the decision was not yet ready. According to Sseggona, concerns surrounding the prevailing situation around the court precincts also informed the decision not to reconvene in open court merely to communicate the postponement.
“The Chief Magistrate has advised that her ruling is not ready. Owing to the sensitivity of the case and all the environment as you see it, she was informed that it is not advisable to come back to court to convey the news that the ruling is not ready. She undertook to deliver the ruling by ICJMS within twenty-four hours,” Sseggona said.
He further explained that the court indicated that the proceedings had generated extensive legal submissions that required careful scrutiny before a determination on the bail application could be made.
“There are so many words that we have used in these proceedings. So she requested us to go and glue ourselves to the computers as we wait for the ruling. This case will be mentioned again on June 30. Even when we do not come back here tomorrow, we will be back on the 30th of June,” he added.
The postponement of the ruling was met with disappointment by the defence team, although Sseggona said they remained optimistic that justice would ultimately prevail.
“It’s not pleasant news to us either. We have only remained brave because we are duty-bound to be brave. Justice is normally slow, but ultimately justice is justice. We shall wait,” he said.
Outside court, the defence raised fresh concerns regarding Lukwago’s health while in custody, saying his condition continues to deteriorate.
“Meanwhile, for Hon. Lukwago, the health situation is not any better. It gets worse day by day. We have put all this material before court, and we want to trust that court will understand,” Sseggona said.
The defence has consistently argued that Lukwago’s health status constitutes one of the key grounds for granting him bail, maintaining that his continued stay in custody could aggravate his condition.
The latest developments in Lukwago’s case come amid heightened public and political interest, given his prominent role within Uganda’s opposition politics and the broader legal and political implications surrounding ongoing proceedings involving several opposition figures.
Sseggona also commented on reports involving Kenyan lawyer and former Kenyan Justice Minister Martha Karua, who was reportedly detained at Entebbe International Airport and deported after attempting to enter Uganda.
Expressing concern over the reported incident, Sseggona argued that accused persons have a right to legal representation of their choice, including foreign counsel, provided the necessary accreditation procedures are followed.
“I know that Hon. Martha Karua has not been denied entry, but detained at the airport and deported. As a professional, I’m deeply concerned that an accused person is entitled to have a lawyer of his or her choice from anywhere. That’s why there’s room for accreditation,” he said.
Sseggona noted that the matter had already attracted the attention of several legal institutions, including the Uganda Law Society, the Law Council and the East Africa Law Society.
“It’s a matter that has been taken on by the Law Council, the Law Society of Uganda, and the East African Law Society. I would actually have allowed her to come,” he added.
The court’s decision on Lukwago’s bail application is now expected within the next 24 hours through the electronic Integrated Court Case Management System (ICJMS), while the substantive criminal case remains scheduled for mention on June 30.
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