By Swift Reporter
The Chief Magistrate’s Court at Makindye has committed former Kampala Lord Mayor and People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) president Erias Lukwago to the High Court for trial on a charge of misprision of treason.
Chief Magistrate Sarah Basemera made the ruling on Thursday, saying the case had been sufficiently prepared for trial before the High Court, where Lukwago will formally take plea and may apply for bail.
Basemera said the trial will commence during the High Court’s next convenient criminal session.
While delivering the committal order, the Chief Magistrate read a summary of the indictment prepared by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), outlining the evidence the prosecution intends to rely on during the trial.
According to prosecutors, Lukwago is accused of failing to report alleged meetings in which plans to overthrow the Government of Uganda were discussed.
The indictment also mentions several other opposition figures, including Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, Obeid Lutale, Salaam Musumba, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and Charles Rwomushana, among others, in connection with the alleged conspiracy.
The prosecution alleges that Lukwago, in his capacity as president of the People’s Front for Freedom, attended or was aware of meetings where participants allegedly discussed recruiting military expertise, gathering intelligence and procuring weapons to overthrow the government.
State prosecutors further claim that a private security contractor identified as Andrew Wilson was approached in 2021 by Switzerland-based Ugandan Joel Wakayima to help supply firearms and train Ugandans for the alleged plot.
According to the prosecution, Wilson instead reported the matter to Ugandan authorities through the commander of the Ugandan AMISOM contingent in Somalia before later working with the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) as an undercover operative.
The indictment alleges that Wakayima subsequently introduced Wilson to Salaam Musumba, who allegedly sought training in covert communications and intelligence gathering for individuals tasked with spying on the Ugandan government.
Prosecutors further claim that Musumba later convened a meeting attended by Lukwago, Ssemujju Nganda, Lubega Mukaku and Charles Rwomushana, during which Wilson allegedly agreed to serve as the group’s military adviser.
According to the prosecution, Lukwago was aware of the discussions but failed to report them to the relevant authorities as required by law.
“The discussions in the meeting were recorded and the recording will be relied on during trial,” the prosecution states in the indictment.
The state also alleges that on October 28, 2023, Dr. Kizza Besigye met Wilson in Switzerland, where he allegedly requested counterfeit Uganda shillings to destabilise the economy and sought poison to target government officials.
Prosecutors further claim that during another meeting in 2024, Besigye allegedly requested Wilson to assassinate President Yoweri Museveni using a drone strike and promised to provide intelligence on the President’s movements.
The indictment further alleges that before Besigye’s arrest in Nairobi on November 17, 2024, he and Obeid Lutale met Wilson to discuss plans to trigger civil unrest beginning with the assassination of President Museveni in March 2025, and that Lukwago was aware of the alleged meeting but did not report it.
The prosecution contends that these actions amount to misprision of treason, an offence that involves failing to report knowledge of an alleged treasonous plot.
Lukwago has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The allegations against him have not been tested in court, and the High Court will determine the case after hearing evidence from both the prosecution and the defence.
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