Former Kampala Lord Mayor and senior lawyer Erias Lukwago has been denied bail by the High Court, meaning he will remain in custody as he waits for the next stage of his criminal case. The ruling was delivered by Justice David Matovu, who dismissed the application after considering the circumstances surrounding the case.
Lukwago had asked the High Court to release him on bail pending the hearing and determination of his case. In his application, he relied on several provisions of the Constitution and other laws, arguing that he should be granted temporary freedom while the legal process continues.
According to the ruling, Lukwago is one of the defence lawyers in the High Court criminal case involving retired Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye and two others. The application arose from a criminal case that had originally been filed before the Makindye Chief Magistrates Court.
However, Justice Matovu noted that the Makindye Chief Magistrates Court case referred to in the bail application no longer exists because the matter has already been committed to the High Court. He explained that the Deputy Registrar had not yet allocated the newly committed case file to a specific judge for hearing and case management.
The judge said that granting bail at this stage could interfere with the proper management of the case by the judge who will eventually be assigned to handle it. He therefore decided that it was more appropriate to leave the issue for the judge who will take charge of the newly committed case.
Court also directed the Deputy Registrar to follow up on the committal papers from the lower court and ensure that the criminal session file is allocated to one of the judges in the Criminal Division for further case management.
Reports have also indicated that Lukwago’s lawyers raised concerns about his health during the bail application. However, the court noted that no certified medical report from a prisons medical officer had been attached to confirm that his condition could not be managed while in prison. This was among the issues raised during the proceedings.
In his final decision, Justice Matovu dismissed the bail application, leaving Lukwago in custody until the newly committed case is assigned to a judge who will oversee the matter. The ruling was dated July 20, 2026.
The decision has attracted public attention because of Lukwago’s profile as a prominent opposition politician and lawyer. It also highlights the importance of procedural requirements and case management in bail applications before the High Court.
