Kampala, (UG):- Former Kenyan Minister for Justice, Martha Karua is set to take over as head of the legal team representing veteran opposition politician, Dr Kizza Besigye in the ongoing case at the General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala.
The development was confirmed Monday by Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago who said that the team, now comprising over 50 lawyers from Uganda and Kenya are set to represent the four-time presidential contender and his political associate, Hajj Obeid Lutale in the monumental case following their arrest in Nairobi 10 days ago. Besigye had been invited as a speaker at the launch of Ms Karua’s book, Against the Tide.
The duo were last week and charged and remanded over the illegal possession of firearms and rounds of ammunition.
“The decision we have taken is to assemble a very big team of lawyers from Kenya and Uganda. So far, 50 lawyers have committed to be with us on that day (December 2) and are ready to take on the State and provide any other legal services required in the case,” Mr Lukwago said, adding that the head of this team of lawyers is now Hon Martha Karua.
“From today onwards, she’s the head of the legal team. I am no longer the lead counsel in this matter,” the Lord Mayor reiterated.
Lukwago, who is also the interim president of the FDC Katonga faction explained that the team of lawyers from the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU) and the East African Law Society will be attending court on 2nd December when the duo returns to court for their case mentioning.
“We’re still in close contact with the leadership of the Law Society of Kenya to interest them in the matter but they also seem to be confirming,” Lukwago noted.
He further noted that necessary steps have been taken to secure a temporary practising license for Hon Karua for this case, citing Section 18 of the Advocates Act, which allows for a lawyer from another legal jurisdiction to practice in Uganda, as long as they are from commonwealth countries.
“The requirement is that you file the application with the law council and the chief registrar will issue the temporary practising certificate. We have started on the process today. Hon Martha Karua has already applied for the certificate and by closure of business today, we want to finalize on the application so that it can be processed expeditiously,” Lukwago said.
“We shall process the applications for the other lawyers in the course of the week. For the time being now, they will be attached to Lukwago and Company Advocates,” he added.
In a related development, police in Kampala Monday arrested Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, former MP Ingrid Turinawe and six other members of the FDC-Katonga faction as they attempted to march to Kenya High Commission in Uganda for an explanation on the abduction of the duo in Nairobi, and their subsequent trial in court martial.
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