Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has sparked fresh controversy after declaring that opposition figures Dr Kizza Besigye and Erias Lukwago will not be granted bail, insisting that the two will have to face what he described as punishment for their alleged crimes.
In a post shared on x, Muhoozi wrote: “Besigye and Lukwago will never get bail. They will pay for their crimes!”
The statement comes as both opposition figures remain embroiled in separate but connected legal proceedings arising from allegations surrounding a purported plot against the Ugandan government.
Muhoozi’s remarks are particularly significant because the decision to grant or deny bail is a matter for the courts, and not for an individual political or military official. The two suspects are entitled to have their cases determined through the judicial process, while the allegations against them remain subject to proof before a competent court.
Besigye, a veteran opposition politician and four-time presidential candidate, has been facing treason-related proceedings alongside his political aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale. The prosecution alleges that the accused were involved in activities amounting to treason and related offences, allegations they have denied.
Besigye’s case has attracted substantial attention both in Uganda and internationally, particularly over the length of his detention and disputes surrounding his legal representation and access to court.
Lukwago, the former Lord Mayor of Kampala and a senior figure in the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), was arrested in June 2026 and subsequently charged with misprision of treason in connection with the wider case involving Besigye.
According to prosecution allegations reported by *Daily Monitor*, Lukwago allegedly knew that Besigye and other individuals intended to commit treason between 2021 and November 2024 but failed to report the information to relevant authorities. Lukwago denied the allegations.
Lukwago’s bail application has also become a major point of contention. The Director of Public Prosecutions previously opposed his release, arguing that his political influence could make him a flight risk and could enable him to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
Recent reporting indicates that the legal proceedings involving the two opposition figures have continued amid heightened political tensions. Security forces also restricted access around PFF headquarters in Kampala on September 14 as party officials sought to petition the Chief Justice over the detention of Besigye and Lukwago.
Muhoozi’s latest statement is therefore likely to generate further debate over the separation between Uganda’s judicial and political institutions.
While the CDF has publicly declared that the two men will “never get bail,” his statement does not itself determine their legal fate. Any decision concerning bail remains a matter for the courts, which must consider the applications, prosecution objections and applicable law.
The remarks are also likely to intensify criticism from opposition supporters and human-rights advocates who have previously questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrests and detention of opposition figures.
For the government, however, the cases remain criminal matters rather than political disputes, with authorities maintaining that suspects facing serious allegations should answer to the law.
As the proceedings continue, attention will remain focused on the courts and whether Besigye and Lukwago will eventually secure their freedom on bail or remain in custody as their respective cases proceed.
Muhoozi’s latest declaration has added another politically charged dimension to an already closely watched legal battle, particularly because it comes from Uganda’s top military commander while the accused persons’ cases remain before the judicial system.
