Former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has been taken to Mulago National Referral Hospital in critical condition, according to his family, as he pursues bail citing the need for specialised medical treatment while in detention.
The development, reported on Monday, October 19, 2026, adds urgency to questions surrounding Lukwago’s health, his continued detention and the status of his latest application for release.
His current diagnosis and the treatment he is receiving have not been officially disclosed.
The Uganda Prisons Service had not issued a public statement on the hospitalisation by press time, while attempts by Nile Post to obtain a response from prisons spokesperson Frank Baine were unsuccessful.
Lukwago’s latest hospitalisation comes after months of reported health complications during his detention at Luzira Prison.
He was transferred from Murchison Bay Prison to Mulago National Referral Hospital on June 25, 2026, following a court directive requiring prison authorities to facilitate specialised medical assessment and treatment.
His lawyers subsequently reported that he was experiencing severe pain, particularly around the area where he had previously undergone spinal surgery in India.
They also reported that he remained physically weak as doctors conducted investigations.
The latest development comes against this background, although the available information does not establish whether the condition that prompted his reported hospitalisation on October 19 is directly connected to his earlier medical problems.
Lukwago has repeatedly cited his health and need for specialised care in applications seeking bail.
In a fresh bail application reported on October 19, Lukwago argued that he had spent more than 60 days on remand without trial and needed treatment that prison medical facilities could not adequately provide.
He cited the need for a post-operative review of his cervical spine surgery, alongside assessment and treatment for other medical conditions.
Lukwago asked the High Court to consider his medical needs, fixed residence and proposed sureties when determining whether he should be released. No decision on the latest bail application is reported in the available information.
It is also unclear whether the court has scheduled a date to consider the application or whether the latest hospitalisation will affect its consideration.
The immediate questions therefore concern both his medical condition and the progress of his request for release.
Lukwago was arrested on June 15, 2026, after armed security personnel reportedly raided his home in Wakaliga, Kampala.
His whereabouts remained unknown for more than two days, prompting concerns among his family and associates about his detention and access to legal assistance.
He was produced in court on June 17 and charged with misprision of treason, an offence relating to failure to report knowledge of alleged treasonous activities.
The prosecution alleges that Lukwago knew of an alleged plot involving detained opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and other opposition figures but failed to report it to the authorities.
Lukwago has denied the charge. Before his arrest, he was representing Besigye in the treason case.
His detention complicated Besigye’s efforts to proceed with lawyers of his choice, an issue that featured in court proceedings before Besigye collapsed during his trial in July.
Lukwago’s medical concerns have emerged against the backdrop of a separate dispute over Besigye’s treatment while in custody.
Besigye collapsed during his treason trial in July 2026 and was taken to Mulago for emergency treatment.
He was discharged on August 7 and returned to Luzira Prison, despite objections from his wife, Winnie Byanyima, who said he remained too weak to walk, speak or care for himself.
The circumstances of the discharge triggered a dispute between the family and authorities over whether Besigye was medically fit to leave hospital.
Byanyima subsequently continued raising concerns about his condition and access to appropriate medical care.
Besigye has not participated in subsequent court proceedings, although the High Court has allowed his treason trial to proceed in his absence.
The two cases have distinct circumstances, and the available information does not establish that Lukwago and Besigye have experienced identical medical conditions or treatment decisions.
However, both cases have brought attention to questions about healthcare for detained opposition figures and the handling of medical concerns while court proceedings continue.
Lukwago’s current medical condition remains unclear, with no official diagnosis or details of his treatment disclosed in the available information.
The Uganda Prisons Service had not publicly commented on the latest hospitalisation by the time of reporting, and no statement from Mulago National Referral Hospital was included in the source material. The outcome of Lukwago’s fresh bail application is also unknown.
Further information from his lawyers, family, prison authorities, the hospital or the court would help establish his condition, the care being provided and the next steps in his legal case.
For now, the immediate development is the report from Lukwago’s family that he has been hospitalised in critical condition.
Erias Lukwago hospitalised at Mulago remains the central development, but his diagnosis, treatment and bail prospects remain unresolved pending further official information.
