I recently watched a viral video of former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago appearing in court in what appeared to be a severely deteriorated state of health. In an emotional plea, he asked the court to grant him bail so he could seek specialised medical treatment.
"In a nutshell, Your Worship, I am sentenced to death if no rescue is made to address my condition as advised by consultants from Mulago National Referral Hospital," Lukwago told the court. "It is a death sentence for me."
With tears in his eyes, he continued:
"And all I can say to Allah is, if You are to take me, my Lord, the God who created me, kindly take me without a lot of pain."
The veteran lawyer went on to ask that he at least be given palliative care.
"I know I will die. All of us will die. But I would not want to die a painful death. I beg and pray," he said.
Despite his emotional appeal, the court denied him bail and remanded him to prison.
According to publicly available information, Lukwago's latest ordeal began on June 15, 2026, when security personnel reportedly entered his home, arrested him in the presence of his family, and took him away. Images later circulated on social media showing him blindfolded before he was eventually produced in court.
To me, what is most disturbing is the allegation that such actions were carried out by state agents entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the lives and property of all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation.
Many may wonder what offence Lukwago committed to warrant such treatment.
From my understanding, it was neither a violent crime nor an economic offence. Rather, the events stemmed from his role as a lawyer representing Dr Kizza Besigye and Obed Lutale, during which he reportedly attempted to serve a court notice on the Chief of Defence Forces.
Beyond the charges he currently faces, I believe Lukwago has become a symbol of the struggle for the rule of law and one of Uganda's most recognisable opposition figures. In my view, this has made him a target.
Lukwago served as Lord Mayor of Kampala from 2011 to 2026. He is a former Member of Parliament, an advocate of the High Court, President of the People's Front for Freedom and, to many supporters, a longstanding defender of constitutionalism and democratic governance.
Given his legal standing and public profile, I expected he would be granted bail at his first appearance.
Instead, I believe Uganda's legal system increasingly reflects executive influence over judicial independence.
Article 23(6) of the 1995 Constitution provides for bail where an accused person satisfies the prescribed conditions. Yet, in my opinion, courts have increasingly declined bail even where applicants appear to meet those requirements.
In any democracy governed by the rule of law, bail should not become an exception based on political considerations. It should remain a constitutional safeguard for persons who have not been convicted.
For political detainees such as Erias Lukwago and Alex Waisswa Mufumbiro, however, bail appears to have become a matter of judicial discretion rather than constitutional entitlement.
In my view, Lukwago is paying the price for exercising his constitutional right to dissent and for belonging to the political opposition.
He joins a long list of Ugandans who, in my opinion, have suffered consequences for expressing views contrary to those of the government since 1986.
Dissent should never be equated with criminality.
It is the peaceful expression of conscience against perceived injustice. It includes speaking uncomfortable truths, organising peacefully, advocating reforms and challenging those in power through lawful means.
Article 29 of Uganda's Constitution guarantees freedoms of expression, conscience, assembly and association.
These freedoms are indispensable to any democratic society. They enable governments to receive criticism, correct mistakes and strengthen institutions.
Sadly, I believe Uganda has moved towards greater authoritarianism, with shrinking space for alternative political voices.
In my opinion, several laws—including the Anti-Terrorism Act, Computer Misuse Act, Public Order Management Act, the Sovereignty law and the Administration of Parliament Bill—have contributed to restricting civic space and political competition.
The public display of arrests, prosecutions and other coercive measures against opposition figures, in my view, creates fear, discourages political participation and reinforces an atmosphere of intimidation.
Such developments, I believe, run contrary to the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which recognise freedoms of expression, association and political participation.
Domestically, they also challenge the democratic ideals embodied in Articles 69, 71 and 72 of Uganda's Constitution, which provide for political participation and multiparty democracy.
Today, many opposition supporters fear consequences ranging from surveillance and financial restrictions to loss of employment, arrest or prosecution.
Participating in opposition politics has, in my view, become increasingly risky.
This raises important questions.
Should citizens live in fear because of their political beliefs? Should alternative voices be silenced? Should democratic competition be viewed as a threat rather than a constitutional right?
My answer is no.
Fear limits human potential, while silence weakens institutions.
If these trends continue unchecked, Uganda risks becoming a society where dissent is no longer tolerated.
Those who value democracy, regardless of political affiliation, should continue advocating accountability, transparency, tolerance, peaceful coexistence and respect for constitutional freedoms.
I also believe international institutions—including the United Nations, African Union, Commonwealth and global human rights organisations—should consistently encourage member states to protect the rights to free expression, peaceful assembly and political participation.
At the same time, opposition actors also bear responsibility. Political disagreement should not descend into personal insults or inflammatory rhetoric. Meaningful dialogue remains essential for national cohesion.
As civic space narrows, peaceful avenues such as journalism, literature, art, music, cartoons and social media become increasingly important platforms for democratic expression.
Ultimately, the plight of Erias Lukwago serves, in my view, as a warning that the future of dissent in Uganda is becoming increasingly uncertain.
Robert Kigongo is a sustainable development analyst and a defender of defenders
