Former Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura has sharply criticised the indictment of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, describing the move as a “blatant conflict of interest” involving Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Thomas Jatiko.
In a statement, Nyanjura claimed that Jatiko’s role in prosecuting Lukwago raises serious ethical concerns, citing their long-standing courtroom rivalry.
She noted that for over a year, Jatiko has appeared on the prosecution side in cases where Lukwago represented the defence, particularly in matters involving opposition figure Kizza Besigye.
According to Nyanjura, Lukwago’s legal performances had consistently challenged the prosecution’s position, creating what she described as a professional contest that has now escalated beyond legal boundaries.
She alleged that the indictment was not purely based on legal grounds but was instead influenced by personal and professional interests.
“On the prosecutor’s side, it was Jatiko; on the defence side, it was Lukwago,” Nyanjura stated, adding that the decision to indict Lukwago amounts to an attempt to remove a key legal opponent from the courtroom.
She further questioned the credibility of the charges, pointing to what she termed as inconsistencies within the charge sheet.
Nyanjura argued that the indictment accuses Lukwago of knowledge of alleged treasonous activities between 2021 and 2024 in his capacity as president of the PFF, yet the political formation did not exist during that period.
The former deputy mayor also referenced the reported abduction of Besigye from Kenya in November 2024, maintaining that the timeline presented by prosecutors does not align with known political developments.
Nyanjura concluded that the case reflects a “rushed, manufactured political hit-job” aimed at sidelining Lukwago, whom she described as a formidable defence lawyer in politically sensitive cases.