Uganda: Lukwago Condems Continued Detention of Besigye, Calls for Opposition Unity

By Andrew Victor Mawanda Naimanye

Kampala Lord Mayor and People's Front For Freedom (PFF) President, Erias Lukwago, has voiced strong criticism over the ongoing detention of opposition leader Kizza Besigye, whose bail applications have been repeatedly denied.

Speaking during NBS Morning Breeze on Monday, Lukwago highlighted the continued incarceration of Besigye, noting that the opposition figure remains in jail despite multiple bail requests being rejected.

"As we speak now, the Opposition kingpin, Dr. Kizza Besigye is in jail and has had his bail denied multiple times," Lukwago said.

"Before he was arrested, Dr. Kizza Besigye was facilitating all measures to bring all the opposition forces together."

Lukwago's comments come days after the High Court, presided over by Judge Emmanuel Baguma, declined to grant bail to Besigye on treason charges, in a decision that has sparked widespread debate.

The judge ruled that the 180-day maximum period before mandatory bail is granted only started when Besigye was remanded in the civilian court on February 21, 2025.

Consequently, the court held that Besigye fell short by 12 days to meet the legal requirement for bail.

However, Besigye's lawyers argued that he should be released immediately on bail since he has been detained for over nine months, more than 180 days, without his trial commencing.

Besigye, a vocal critic of the government, denies all charges.

He was forcefully returned to Uganda from neighbouring Kenya in November last year and initially faced a military tribunal before his case was transferred to the civilian judicial system.

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