National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has strongly condemned the continued detention of lawyer Erias Lukwago, linking his worsening health condition to what he described as state-inflicted suffering.
Bobi Wine’s remarks follow Lukwago’s emotional court appearance on Tuesday, where the detained lawyer pleaded for bail to seek urgent medical treatment, warning that his condition had effectively become a “death sentence” if left unaddressed.
In a statement shared shortly after the court session, the opposition leader accused senior figures within government of taking pride in Lukwago’s suffering.
He specifically referenced remarks attributed to President Yoweri Museveni’s son, claiming they reflect a broader pattern of impunity.
“Museveni’s son said he is very proud of the pain and hurt he is inflicting on former Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago,” Bobi Wine said. “He must be very proud of himself, seeing this video.”
The NUP leader, however, cautioned that political power is temporary and warned that those allegedly responsible for abuses would eventually be held accountable.
“But as the saying goes, no one is tall enough to see the future. One day, the tables will turn and all these atrocities will be accounted for, one by one,” he added.
Lukwago, a former Kampala Lord Mayor and prominent government critic, told court that medical experts from Mulago National Referral Hospital had recommended urgent intervention.
He said his continued stay in custody had denied him access to adequate care, leaving him in severe pain.
“In a nutshell, Your Worship, I am sentenced to death,” Lukwago said during the hearing. “If no rescue is made… it’s a death sentence for me.”
He further appealed for humanitarian consideration, stating that he would rather receive palliative care than endure prolonged suffering without treatment.
The prosecution is yet to formally respond to the bail request, with the court expected to review medical reports before issuing a ruling.
Lukwago’s case has intensified political tensions in Uganda, with opposition supporters rallying online under the hashtag #FreeLukwago, calling for his immediate release on health grounds.