June 15, 2026 – A political storm erupted on Monday after Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and son of President Yoweri Museveni, shared taunts and photos on X that appeared to show former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago being held in what he describes as his ‘basement.’
The posts triggered widespread concern among opposition leaders, human rights activists, and members of the public, who questioned the legality of Erias Lukwago’s publicly witnessed abduction and demanded information about his whereabouts and well-being, fuelled by #FreeEriasLukwago.
Reports of Erias Lukwago’s Abduction
According to opposition figures, armed security operatives raided Lukwago’s home in Wakaliga, Kampala, during the early hours of Monday morning.
Reports indicate that Lukwago was preparing to serve High Court summons on Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba when armed personnel violently abducted him. Witnesses reportedly observed a surveillance drone operating near the residence before they broke into the premises.
Muhoozi’s Posts on X
Shortly after reports of the raid emerged, Gen. Muhoozi began posting a series of messages on X that appeared to reference Lukwago.
In one post, he wrote: “I have captured a FOOL and taken him to the basement!”
He later shared a photo of a blindfolded man seated in what appeared to be a tiled room, captioned “Ongea Kiswahili.” The individual was widely identified online as Erias Lukwago.
Investigative journalist Andrew Natumanya (@NinyeTabz) claimed the room shown in the photo resembled the location where NUP supporter and Bobi Wine’s long-time bodyguard, Eddie Mutwe, was previously photographed following his arrest, suggesting it could be a military detention facility in Mbuya.
Using terms such as “warming up,” “urinating,” and needing “diapers,” Muhoozi continued boasting about Erias Lukwago’s situation along with promises of more pictures.
Opposition Condemns Incident
Opposition leaders have condemned the developments.
National Unity Platform (NUP) president Bobi Wine condemned the abduction of Lukwago, arguing that if an outgoing Kampala Lord Mayor, former MP, and senior lawyer could be treated this way for attempting to serve court summons, then ordinary opposition supporters face even greater risks.
Several opposition figures raised concerns about Lukwago’s health and safety, noting that he had recently been in fragile condition. Human rights advocates also called for authorities to disclose his location and ensure that his legal rights are respected. To many of these, including former MPs Ssemujju Nganda and Odonga Otto, Muhoozi responded through his official account with direct threats.
Questions Over Official Custody – Uganda Police Force
Adding to the uncertainty, Uganda Police Force, through its spokesperson, Kituuma Rusoke, officially stated that they had no record of Erias Lukwago being held in official police custody.
As of Monday evening, neither the government nor the military had issued a formal statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding Lukwago’s abduction, while calls for transparency and accountability continued to grow.
