Uganda Law Society Condemns Arrest of PACEID Official Matthew Bagonza, Warns Against Threat of Extrajudicial Punishment
KAMPALA UGANDA: 26 August 2026— The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has strongly condemned the reported arrest of Mr. Matthew Bagonza, Head of the Secretariat for the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), following public threats and social media posts made by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
In an official statement issued on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, and signed by ULS Vice President Asiimwe Anthony, the legal body raised grave concerns over comments attributed to the military chief. Gen. Muhoozi had previously declared PACEID an “illegal organisation” and threatened to arrest its members.
The ULS expressed particular alarm over a now-deleted post attributed to the CDF, which featured a photograph of Mr. Bagonza alongside a threat stating, “We shall start caning his stomach tomorrow. He will lose weight after that.”
Characterizing the rhetoric as “unacceptable,” the ULS emphasized that no security official or government figure holds the legal authority to replace a court of law with physical threats or extrajudicial measures.
”A suspect is not a convicted person. No security official or government stakeholder has the authority to replace a court of law with threats of physical punishment,” the ULS stated. “A country cannot claim to be governed by law when the punishment of a suspect is announced on social media before the suspect has even appeared in court.”
The Society outlined standard legal procedures, demanding that if Mr. Bagonza is suspected of any criminal offense, he must be investigated by the Uganda Police Force, evaluated by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and tried before a competent court.
Highlighting a wider pattern, the ULS warned that Uganda is witnessing a “deeply troubling normalisation of arbitrary arrests, unlawful detention, incommunicado detention and enforced disappearances” targeting opposition politicians, activists, journalists, and government critics.
Demands for Due Process
The Uganda Law Society has put forward immediate demands regarding the handling of Mr. Bagonza’s custody:
Legal & Family Access: Grant Mr. Bagonza immediate access to his legal team and family members.
Court Appearance: Present him before a competent court without delay if genuine criminal charges exist against him.
Constitutional Protections: Uphold equal protection under the law for all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation or standing.
Concluding with the rallying call to “Resist Lawlessness,” the ULS reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rule of law, maintaining that no individual is above the law or beneath its protection.
