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Lukwago back to Mulago Hospital for specialised treatment
“He is for routine specialised treatment. He is sick but not in a critical condition,” Baine said via phone.
Former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago in a court dock. (File photo)
By: Umaru Kashaka, Journalist @New Vision
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Jailed former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has been taken back to Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala for routine specialised treatment, the Uganda Prisons Service has said.
Frank Baine, the Uganda prisons spokesperson, told New Vision Online on Monday (October 19) that Lukwago was taken back to Mulago Hospital this morning.
“He is for routine specialised treatment. He is sick but not in a critical condition,” Baine said via phone.
This was a few hours after Lukwago, who was charged with misprision of treason in June this year, made a fourth attempt to get bail at the High Court in Kampala in an amended application filed by his lawyers.
The former Lord Mayor implored the court to grant him mandatory bail on grounds that he has spent over 60 days on remand without trial and requires specialised medical treatment abroad.
The hearing of his bail application failed to take off at the High Court last week after the presiding judge, David Matovu, was reportedly indisposed.
Lukwago’s lawyer, Medard Lubega Sseggona, told journalists at the court premises after the session failed to proceed that they were told at the last minute that justice Matovu had got a medical emergency.
“We had taken a deliberate decision not to conduct this case in the media. So, for that reason we were not able to communicate the last-minute change, which we understand was occasioned by that medical emergency on the part of the presiding judge,” he said.
The former Lord Mayor implored the court to grant him mandatory bail on grounds that he has spent over 60 days on remand without trial and requires specialised medical treatment abroad.
The hearing of his bail application failed to take off at the High Court last week after the presiding judge, David Matovu, was reportedly indisposed.
Lukwago’s lawyer, Medard Lubega Sseggona, told journalists at the court premises after the session failed to proceed that they were told at the last minute that justice Matovu had got a medical emergency.
“We had taken a deliberate decision not to conduct this case in the media. So, for that reason we were not able to communicate the last-minute change, which we understand was occasioned by that medical emergency on the part of the presiding judge,” he said.
Sseggona noted that no new hearing date had been communicated.
“We do not have a date yet; we will come back to the judge next week (this week) to ask for another date. We can understand the agony and pain that the family (of Lukwago) undergoes. He is the breadwinner for his family and he is not working. His wife is not working…,” he said.
Sseggona argued that some of Lukwago’s ailments could have been avoided if he remained out of prison because they are lifestyle conditions.
“There are other conditions, which cannot be attended to in Uganda as you are all aware,” he added.
Lukwago’s medical issues include pulmonary challenges, breathlessness, and severe pain from sciatica.
“We do not have a date yet; we will come back to the judge next week (this week) to ask for another date. We can understand the agony and pain that the family (of Lukwago) undergoes. He is the breadwinner for his family and he is not working. His wife is not working…,” he said.
Sseggona argued that some of Lukwago’s ailments could have been avoided if he remained out of prison because they are lifestyle conditions.
“There are other conditions, which cannot be attended to in Uganda as you are all aware,” he added.
Lukwago’s medical issues include pulmonary challenges, breathlessness, and severe pain from sciatica.