The military chief of Uganda had already promised pain before the arrest even came. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni, publicly boasted about the "hurt and pain" he intended to inflict on Erias Lukwago, a prominent lawyer and politician in the country.
Lukwago was arrested earlier this week, and the charges now extend to his legal counsel as well. The lawyer handling his high-profile treason case has been charged with a related offence, widening what many are watching as a deeply politicised legal situation.
Treason charges in Uganda carry serious weight, and the decision to bring in Lukwago's own defense lawyer raises urgent questions about access to fair representation. When the people defending you in court become targets themselves, the stakes shift for everyone involved.
Originally published by BBC Africa.