National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, commonly known as Bobi Wine, has sent an emotional message of encouragement to jailed opposition leader Erias Lukwago, recalling painful moments involving other opposition figures who sought medical help while in detention but allegedly did not receive it in time.
In a handwritten letter dated July 8, 2026, Kyagulanyi described Lukwago’s situation as heartbreaking, saying the former Kampala Lord Mayor’s plea for medical attention reminded him of the late Kawempe North Member of Parliament Muhammad Ssegirinya.
Kyagulanyi said he watched footage of Lukwago appearing before court and requesting to be granted bail so that he could access medical care due to his deteriorating health.
“I have been following your trials and tribulations with a heavy heart. I watched a video of you begging the magistrate to be granted bail so that you could access medical care. It was heartbreaking. Even in that condition, they remanded you further,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
The opposition leader said Lukwago’s situation brought back memories of Ssegirinya, who also pleaded before court while battling serious health complications during his time in detention.
“That reminded me of our brother Muhammad Ssegirinya who stood before court, desperately begging for the same mercy, even showing the magistrate his feet as they rotted away. His cries were ignored until it was too late,” Kyagulanyi said.
Ssegirinya, who represented Kawempe North under NUP, died in 2024 after a prolonged illness following his arrest and detention. His supporters had repeatedly raised concerns about his health and access to treatment.
Kyagulanyi said he fears that history could repeat itself if authorities ignore Lukwago’s health concerns and fail to provide him with the medical attention he requires.
Lukwago, who heads the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), was arrested on June 15, 2026, from his home in Nalukolongo, Kampala, in an operation that opposition figures described as an abduction.
His lawyers and political allies said he was taken away by security personnel before his whereabouts became known, raising concerns among his supporters.
Two days after his arrest, Lukwago appeared before Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with misprision of treason, a charge connected to the wider case involving opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and Haji Obed Lutale.
Prosecution alleges that Lukwago, who was part of Besigye’s legal team, had knowledge of an alleged plan to overthrow the government but failed to report it to authorities.
Lukwago has denied the allegations, maintaining that the charges against him are politically motivated.
The case has attracted widespread attention because Lukwago is not only an opposition politician but also a respected human rights lawyer who has represented several activists and political figures facing legal challenges.
At the time of his arrest, Lukwago was among the lawyers representing Besigye and Lutale, who were arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2024 after travelling to attend a book launch by Kenyan lawyer and politician Martha Karua.
According to prosecutors, Besigye and Lutale were involved in activities linked to an alleged attempt to overthrow the government, claims that their supporters have strongly rejected.
In his letter, Kyagulanyi also recalled his own difficult moments, including when Lukwago visited him at Makindye Military Barracks after his arrest during the Arua by-election campaigns in 2018.
“I remember the day you visited me in Makindye Military Barracks after I was brutally tortured in Arua. You saw me in that condition and wept. By God’s grace, I recovered, at least physically,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
He told Lukwago that it was painful to see someone who spent years defending victims of injustice now facing what he described as similar treatment.
“You’ve spent your life defending victims of injustice. It is sad to see you now enduring the very injustice you defended others from. Your only crime is refusing to kneel before Museveni and his family,” he said.
Kyagulanyi also referred to statements attributed to Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces, regarding Lukwago, saying they added to his concerns about the opposition leader’s situation.
The NUP leader explained that he was unable to personally visit Lukwago because he is currently outside Uganda, but said he wished he could stand beside him during the difficult period.
“I’m sadly unable to come and personally visit and comfort you during this painful time. I wish I could,” he wrote.
The message comes amid growing uncertainty within Uganda’s opposition circles, with several opposition figures expressing concerns about political pressure, arrests and their personal safety.
Kyagulanyi himself left Uganda after the 2026 presidential election, saying he feared for his safety after receiving information that authorities intended to arrest him.
For Bobi Wine, Lukwago’s case represents more than an individual legal battle; he views it as part of a wider struggle over political freedoms, justice and the treatment of government critics in Uganda.
As Lukwago continues facing court proceedings, his supporters are watching closely, demanding that his health concerns are addressed while the legal process continues.
