Muhoozi Orders Lukwago’s Release, Mobilises Supporters for Turkish Embassy Protest

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on Tuesday announced that opposition politician Erias Lukwago would be released from detention while calling on supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) to demonstrate at the Turkish Embassy in Kampala later this week.

Lukwago, the acting president of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) and former Kampala Lord Mayor, was reportedly seized by armed men from his Wakaliga residence on Monday, prompting condemnation from the Uganda Law Society and opposition leaders.

In a post on X, Kainerugaba said Lukwago’s release had not been prompted by pressure from any individual or institution.

“Nothing has made me release Erias. No pressure from anywhere. I wanted to keep him in my basement forever! It is just Jesus Christ, the Bachwezi and Charlotte.”

The statement confirmed that Lukwago had been held by security agencies, although no official agency had publicly acknowledged responsibility for his detention.

Kainerugaba also called for demonstrations at the Turkish Embassy, escalating a growing dispute over Turkey’s role in Somalia.

“All Security Services are instructed to leave our supporters/ordinary Ugandans to demonstrate at the Turkish Embassy on Friday.”

He later backed calls for the protest from PLU’s outgoing Secretary General, Daudi Kabanda, writing:

“PLU should demonstrate on Friday comrade!”

In a statement, Kabanda reaffirmed: “Members of PLU and supporters of our Chairman General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, we shall be staging an energetic demonstration/protest on 19th June 2026 at the Turkish Embassy in Kampala. Come in big numbers.”

The call follows a series of posts by Kainerugaba criticising Turkey’s growing influence in Somalia, where Uganda has maintained troops for nearly two decades and remains the largest contributor to peace support operations.

Kainerugaba accused Turkey of failing to adequately recognise Uganda’s military contribution to Somalia’s stability,

The dispute intensified after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud suggested during Army Day celebrations that Somalia’s forces were increasingly capable of taking over security responsibilities and that it may soon be time to tell Ugandan troops “thank you” and “ma’asalaam.”

The planned protest would represent a significant escalation in the public dispute and comes at a time when Turkey remains an important economic and development partner for Uganda, with Turkish firms involved in major infrastructure, construction and trade projects across the country.

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