Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has made a strong statement about the ongoing legal troubles involving opposition figures Dr Kizza Besigye and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
In a post published on X on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Muhoozi said he did not expect either Besigye or Lukwago to be released on bail. “Besigye and Lukwago will never get bail. They will pay for their crimes!” he wrote.
The statement came as both opposition figures remained in custody while facing separate legal proceedings connected to alleged offences relating to treason.
Besigye has been in detention since his arrest in Kenya in November 2024. He is facing treason charges together with his aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, over allegations that they were involved in a plot to overthrow the Ugandan government. They deny the allegations.
Lukwago, who has served as Besigye’s lawyer, was arrested in June 2026 and later charged with misprision of treason. Prosecutors allege that he knew about an alleged treason plot involving Besigye and others but failed to report it to the authorities.
Lukwago has denied the charge. His legal team has also challenged the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention, arguing that his work as a lawyer should be protected by legal and constitutional safeguards.
Muhoozi’s latest statement therefore places the issue of bail at the centre of the continuing political and legal confrontation surrounding the two men.
Under Ugandan law, bail is ultimately a matter for the courts. For people charged with capital offences, the Constitution provides a framework under which they may apply for bail after spending the required period on remand, but meeting that period does not automatically guarantee release.
Courts can consider several factors when determining bail applications, including the seriousness of the charges, the likelihood of an accused person appearing for trial and the suitability of proposed sureties.
Muhoozi’s statement, therefore, is a political and public declaration rather than a court ruling on whether Besigye or Lukwago can receive bail.
The two cases have attracted considerable attention because of the senior political figures involved and the seriousness of the charges. Besigye is a long-time opposition politician and former presidential candidate, while Lukwago is a prominent lawyer and former Kampala Lord Mayor.
Besigye’s continued detention has also generated concern over his health. His family and lawyers have repeatedly raised concerns about his medical condition and have sought his release so that he can receive specialised treatment.
Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, has previously called for his release on bail and said she wanted him to receive specialised medical treatment in Geneva. She has maintained that the request was not intended to help him evade the legal proceedings.
Muhoozi has rejected concerns that Besigye is not receiving adequate medical attention. In another post, he said that Besigye was receiving what he described as the best medical attention in Uganda and warned people against saying otherwise.
The CDF also made other comments about Besigye in his series of posts, including disputing the commonly reported account that Besigye served as President Yoweri Museveni’s doctor during the Bush War.
Muhoozi claimed that the late Dr Bata, rather than Besigye, treated Museveni. The claim was reported by Pulse, which also noted that Muhoozi did not provide further details explaining the period or circumstances in which Dr Bata allegedly treated the President.
The relationship between Muhoozi and Besigye has been politically contentious for years, and the latest comments come within that broader history of public disagreements.
Lukwago has also previously been the subject of strong statements from Muhoozi. In June 2026, the CDF made another public statement concerning Lukwago’s possible fate if a request for his release did not come from the Kabaka of Buganda.
Meanwhile, Lukwago’s defence team has continued to challenge the allegations against him. His case has also become connected to wider questions surrounding Besigye’s legal representation after Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua was deported and Lukwago himself was detained.
The latest comments from Muhoozi are therefore likely to keep the cases in the public spotlight as the courts continue handling the legal proceedings.
For now, there has been no court decision establishing that Besigye and Lukwago can never receive bail. Muhoozi’s statement represents his publicly expressed position, while decisions concerning bail and the criminal charges remain matters for the relevant courts.
The proceedings against the two men continue, with the allegations still subject to determination through the judicial process.à
