Former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has appealed to the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court to urgently facilitate specialized medical treatment in India, saying his deteriorating health requires immediate intervention to save his life.
Lukwago, who appeared before the court via Zoom from Luzira Prison, told the court that medical specialists had recommended he return to India for further assessment and treatment following complications arising from an earlier spinal surgery.
The former Lord Mayor has been on remand since he was charged three weeks ago with misprision of treason, an offence in which prosecutors allege he failed to report an alleged plot by opposition politician Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale to overthrow the government.
Lukwago denied the charge and applied for bail, but Chief Magistrate Sarah Basemera declined the request and instead ordered that he receive specialized treatment at Mulago National Referral Hospital. He was later discharged and returned to Murchison Bay Prison.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, Lukwago’s lawyer, Medard Sseggona, asked the court to first hear his client’s concerns about his health before addressing any other matters.
Sseggona argued that although the magistrate presiding over the session lacked jurisdiction to make substantive rulings in the absence of the trial magistrate, the urgency of Lukwago’s condition warranted immediate attention.
Addressing the court, Lukwago said he suffers from chronic lung complications that make breathing difficult, particularly in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces. He recalled experiencing severe breathing difficulties during a previous court appearance when courtroom windows remained closed.
He further explained that senior orthopaedic and spinal specialists, acting on the instructions of Mulago Executive Director Rosemary Byanyima, recently reviewed his condition and discovered complications linked to cervical disc implants inserted during spinal surgery in India in 2024.
According to Lukwago, doctors were unable to perform an MRI scan because they could not immediately verify whether the implanted artificial discs were compatible with the imaging equipment. Instead, they conducted a CT scan, which reportedly revealed abnormalities requiring evaluation by the neurosurgeons who performed the original operation in India.
“I need to be in India immediately if my life is to be saved,” Lukwago told the court.
He also disclosed that he suffers from hearing and balance disorders, as well as gastrointestinal complications, including severe acid reflux and a mild hiatal hernia. He said doctors have recommended surgery and a specialized diet, adding that medication is only providing temporary relief.
Lukwago further informed the court that he has managed hypertension for more than a decade and requires specific sleeping positions to improve circulation and manage his multiple medical conditions. He argued that prison conditions make it impossible to comply with those medical recommendations.
He also complained that prison authorities dismantled a specialized therapeutic pillow prescribed by his doctors because it contained electronic components. Since then, he said, he has been unable to use the device, resulting in poor sleep and increased reliance on sedative medication.
Lukwago told the court that the combination of his illnesses and the lack of recommended treatment had left him fearing for his life.
Representing the prosecution, Chief State Attorney Barbra Masinde informed the court that investigations into the case were still ongoing. She said the prosecution had no objection to an adjournment, noting that the magistrate presiding over the session was not handling the substantive aspects of the matter.
Masinde added that any decisions regarding Lukwago’s medical requests would be made by Chief Magistrate Sarah Basemera, who is handling the case.
The defence also asked the court to direct prison authorities to release Lukwago’s specialized pillow to his family for inspection and possible repair, arguing that replacing it could take several months if it had been damaged beyond repair.
The court was informed that Mulago National Referral Hospital had already submitted a medical report dated June 30, 2026, for consideration.
Magistrate Nanjala adjourned the matter to July 16, 2026, when Chief Magistrate Basemera is expected to issue further directions regarding Lukwago’s medical requests. He remains on remand at Murchison Bay Prison.
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