The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has boycotted a Bar-Bench meeting convened by the Judiciary, citing the alleged abduction and detention of advocate Erias Lukwago.
In a letter dated June 16 and addressed to the Chief Registrar, the ULS said its Executive Council would not attend the meeting as it was focused on efforts to establish Lukwago’s whereabouts and secure his release.
The society alleges that Lukwago, who serves as lead counsel in the ongoing treason trial involving Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, was arrested from his home on June 15 by members of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) acting under the orders of Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe said the society was also reviewing security arrangements for members of Lukwago’s legal team, including foreign counsel and independent trial observers involved in the case.
The lawyers’ body criticized what it described as the Judiciary’s silence regarding the incident, arguing that the institution has a constitutional obligation to protect lawyers, litigants, and the integrity of judicial proceedings.
Asiimwe called on the Chief Justice and the Attorney General to intervene, warning that the ULS would suspend participation in similar engagements with the Judiciary until its concerns are addressed.
The boycott adds to growing pressure from legal and civil society groups demanding accountability and clarity over Lukwago’s reported detention and its implications for the rule of law in Uganda.
By Our Reporter
16th June 2026
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