KAMPALA, Uganda — In an increasingly volatile series of public statements, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has issued an explicit threat of execution against detained Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, stating he will be hanged if traditional leadership does not intervene.
The military chief linked the politician’s fate directly to royal mediation, while drawing a grim comparison to other opposition figures.
An Ultimatum to the Kingdom
The alarming decree was posted to Gen. Muhoozi’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, following his earlier confirmation that Lukwago is currently being held as his personal “prisoner.”
Gen. Muhoozi initially indicated a willingness to negotiate the opposition leader’s release, writing, “If my uncle the Kabaka requests me to release my prisoner… Lukwago. I will do it,” referring to the King of Buganda, Muwenda Mutebi II.
However, the general quickly followed the statement with a stark ultimatum should the monarch decline to make the request:
“If no such request comes through then we will HANG Lukwago like his Boss Besigye.”
Shockwaves Through the Opposition
The reference to “hanging” Lukwago alongside veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye has amplified fears within Uganda’s political landscape regarding the safety of detained government critics. Lukwago, a prominent lawyer and the Lord Mayor of Kampala, is a leading figure in the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and a fierce opponent of the current administration.
Hours before the execution threat, Gen. Muhoozi had already dismissed public concerns over Lukwago’s health, writing that the politician could “be as SICK as he can pretend” but would remain in custody regardless.
Growing Alarm Over Military Directives
By openly demanding a royal petition under threat of extrajudicial execution, the head of Uganda’s military has bypassed standard judicial processes altogether. Legal experts note that holding a civilian leader as a military prisoner and publicly threatening a death sentence via social media marks a significant and dangerous departure from established legal frameworks.
Human rights organizations and members of the opposition have condemned the statements, calling on the state to immediately clarify the legal status and physical well-being of the Lord Mayor. Neither the Ministry of Defence nor government spokespersons have issued a statement regarding the CDF’s recent online declarations.
