The High court has directed Luzira Upper Prison to produce jailed former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago on July 24, 2026, for the hearing of his bail application.Earlier this week, Lukwago was committed to the High court for trial on a charge of misprision of treason. According to a production warrant issued on July 16, 2026, the officer-in-charge of Luzira Upper Prison has been directed to present him before justice David Matovu at 10:00 a.m.In his Notice of Motion, filed through M/s Lukwago & Co. Advocates, Lukwago invokes constitutional provisions guaranteeing the right to liberty and the right to apply for bail, arguing that he meets all the legal requirements for release.Lukwago identifies himself as an advocate of the courts of judicature, the immediate former Lord Mayor of Kampala Capital City, former Kampala Central MP, former Shadow Attorney General and executive chairperson of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).He argues that he remains presumed innocent until proven guilty and says he has a fixed place of residence in Bulwa Zone, Wakaliga, Rubaga Division, Kampala, making him unlikely to abscond.Lukwago further states that his nearly three decades of legal practice have given him a full understanding of the obligations attached to bail and that he is prepared to comply with any conditions the court may impose.Court documents indicate that he suffers from hypertension, chronic gastritis, hiatus hernia, tinnitus, serious spinal complications, respiratory ailments and post-operative complications that require specialised medical care, close supervision, strict medication and a prescribed diet.According to the application filed by colleagues from his law firm, Lukwago argues that prison conditions cannot adequately provide the level of medical treatment he requires. He also contends that his age, 56, and deteriorating health make continued detention particularly difficult.In a supporting affidavit sworn from Luzira Prison, Lukwago recounts the events leading to his arrest. He states that on June 15, 2026, armed operatives, including individuals allegedly dressed in Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) uniforms, surrounded his home in Wakaliga, forced their way in and arrested him before transporting him in what he describes as a “drone” vehicle to an undisclosed location.He alleges that he was held for two days without access to lawyers, family members or his personal doctors before being transferred to Kira police station and later produced before the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s court on June 17, 2026, where he was charged with misprision of treason.Lukwago further states that his initial application for bail before the Chief Magistrate’s court was rejected, although the court directed that he be taken to Mulago National Referral Hospital for medical examination.According to his affidavit, medical specialists at Mulago later concluded that he requires specialised treatment in India that cannot be provided in Uganda under prison conditions. He says he previously underwent cervical spine surgery at Fortis Memorial Hospital in India after being diagnosed with a C6-C7 disc prolapse.He further states that he suffers from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), tinnitus and other chronic conditions requiring continuous specialised treatment. Lukwago also alleges that while in detention between June 15 and June 16, he was subjected to forced physical exercises despite his post-operative condition, aggravating his medical complications.He argues that continued detention without access to the required treatment could expose him to grave and irreparable harm.To support his bail application, Lukwago has presented four proposed sureties whom he describes as personal friends and close associates. They are Betty Aol Ocan, Woman MP for Gulu City, former Leader of the Opposition and deputy president of PFF for Northern Uganda; Dr Michael Philip Bayiga Lulume, former Buikwe South MP, medical practitioner, Medical Director of Kampala International Medical Centre Kisasi and deputy president of the PFF for Buganda Region; Betty Bakireke Nambooze, MP for Mukono Municipality and chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (Local Government); and Hajji Abdul Sewankambo, Lukwago’s elder brother and heir to the estate of their late father, Hajji Muhamood Mirundi.In his affidavit, Lukwago says he has no intention of abandoning his legal practice or family responsibilities and has every incentive to attend trial in order to clear his name.He further argues that the prosecution would suffer no prejudice if he is granted bail, while his continued incarceration poses a serious risk to his health and life. Lukwago was committed to the High court by the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s court after the prosecution informed the court that investigations into the misprision of treason charge had been completed.According to the indictment, the prosecution alleges that Lukwago knew of a meeting held in Nairobi in November 2024 where discussions allegedly included acquiring surface-to-air missiles, drones and other weapons, as well as plans to assassinate President Yoweri Museveni and trigger civil disobedience, but deliberately failed to disclose the information to the relevant authorities.The post High court sets July 24 for Lukwago’s bail application hearing appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.