Commonwealth Lawyers Association Statement regarding arrest and detention of Erias Lukwago
The Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) has condemned the detention of Ugandan lawyer Erias Lukwago by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) on June 15, 2026. Lukwago is a lead defence counsel in the ongoing treason trial of Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale before Uganda’s High Court. The CLA also raised alarm that his co-lead counsel, Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua — who is authorized to practise in Uganda — was denied entry at Entebbe Airport and held without communication.
In its June 26, 2026 statement, the CLA said targeting defence lawyers through arrest or detention because of their work for a client strikes at the heart of judicial independence and the right to a fair trial. It cited international standards, including the UN Principles on the Role of Lawyers and the International Bar Association’s standards, which protect lawyers from intimidation and sanction for carrying out their professional duties. Backing a parallel statement from the Uganda Law Society, the CLA called on Ugandan authorities to let the trial proceed without interference with defence counsel, to protect members of the legal profession, and to uphold the rule of law and the country’s constitution.