United Nations HIV/AIDS Programme (UNAIDS) Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has condemned the arrest and alleged mistreatment of former Kampala Lord Mayor and lawyer Erias Lukwago, describing the incident as an attack on the rule of law.
Lukwago, who is part of the legal team representing opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye, was reportedly arrested by security operatives from his home in Wakaliga, a Kampala suburb, on Thursday.
In a statement shared on her X account, Byanyima said the alleged actions against Lukwago go beyond an individual case and raise broader concerns about respect for human rights and legal protections.
"His abduction, torture and public humiliation are not just an attack on one man. They are an assault on the rule of law itself," Byanyima said.
Byanyima also called on President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to intervene and ensure accountability, particularly over concerns involving security agencies.
She accused Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces, of repeatedly acting above the law, citing previous controversies involving Dr. Besigye’s case and other incidents.
"Your son and army commander has repeatedly demonstrated that he is above the law. He threatened to kill Dr. Kizza Besigye, defied court processes, and now Erias Lukwago, co-lead of Besigye's defence team, has been brutalised," Byanyima stated.
Lukwago’s arrest has attracted condemnation from human rights activists, opposition groups and the Uganda Law Society, which have demanded explanations from security authorities and called for his immediate release.
The arrest comes amid an ongoing legal case involving Dr. Kizza Besigye, who is facing treason-related charges after he was allegedly abducted in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2024 and later brought back to Uganda.
As of press time, security authorities had not issued a detailed public explanation regarding Lukwago’s arrest or his current whereabouts.