Lawyers representing former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago have mounted a fresh push to secure an urgent bail hearing date following a sharp deterioration in his health.
Led by former Busiro East Member of Parliament Medard Lubega Sseggona, the legal team confirmed that the opposition politician was recently rushed to the hospital after his condition worsened in custody.
In a telephone interview with this publication, Mr Sseggona stated that the family was currently focused on attending to Mr Lukwago at the hospital and was not in a position to address the media. He noted that the defence team's efforts to get a hearing date before the High Court have so far been unsuccessful, despite the urgency of the situation.
"We are doing our best to see if we can get a date to hear his bail application. Unfortunately, so far, we haven’t succeeded. But he is in bad shape," Mr Sseggona said.
The lawyer explained that a scheduled court session at which Mr Lukwago was expected to appear failed to take place after the presiding judge was called away to attend to a sick relative. Although the defence was promised an alternative date, no confirmation had been made by press time.
Mr Sseggona emphasized that securing a date for the bail application remains their primary objective to enable their client to access proper medical attention.
"Our focus is on ensuring that the application is placed before court as soon as possible, especially given his current condition," Mr Sseggona added.
Asked whether the family and legal team are considering seeking specialized treatment abroad, Mr Sseggona revealed that airlift options, including medical care in India, remain central to their plans once court grants him temporary liberty.
This marks Mr Lukwago’s fourth attempt to secure release on bail since his arrest at his home in Wakaliga, Rubaga Division, Kampala, on June 15, 2026. He was subsequently remanded to Luzira Prison and charged with misprision of treason over an alleged plot to overthrow the government alongside veteran opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and others. Prosecution contends that Mr Lukwago had prior knowledge of the alleged plot but failed to disclose it to relevant authorities.
Concerns over Mr Lukwago’s health previously prompted judicial intervention regarding his access to medical care. On June 24, 2026, the court directed Uganda Prisons Service authorities to present him to Mulago National Referral Hospital for comprehensive assessment. He was subsequently transferred from Murchison Bay Prison to Mulago on June 25, 2026, for specialized medical examinations.
The defence maintains that prolonged detention poses a grave threat to his life and severely restricts his access to proper medical specialists.
Efforts to reach Uganda Prisons Service officials for a comment were unsuccessful, as repeated telephone calls went unanswered by press time.
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