KAMPALA, Uganda: Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua, one of the lawyers representing jailed opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye, was Monday denied entry into Uganda upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport ahead of the bail hearing of People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) president Erias Lukwago.
Ms Karua had travelled to Uganda to join the defence team representing Besigye, Obeid Lutale, and Lukwago, who is expected to return to court today for the hearing of his bail application.
The development was first announced by the Uganda Law Society (ULS), which said Karua was denied entry and ordered to return to Kenya without being given any explanation.
“Dr. Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale’s lead counsel Hon. Martha Karua, SC, denied entry at Entebbe International Airport. She has been ordered to return and given no reason,” the Uganda Law Society posted on X.
According to ULS, Karua was travelling with Law Society of Kenya President Senior Counsel Charles Kanjama. While the other lawyers were reportedly allowed into Uganda, Karua was stopped by immigration officials and instructed to return.
“Hon. Martha Karua had arrived in the country to join the defence team representing her defence colleague, Erias Lukwago, in the case involving Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale,” the statement added.
The incident comes at a critical moment in the ongoing legal proceedings involving opposition figures.
Lukwago is expected to appear before the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court today for the hearing of his bail application after he was recently charged with misprision of treason and remanded to prison.
Karua has previously been part of the regional legal team representing Besigye and Lutale in proceedings that have attracted significant public and international attention.
By press time, Ugandan immigration authorities had not issued an official statement explaining the decision to deny Karua entry into the country.
The Uganda Law Society condemned the move and indicated it was monitoring the situation closely.
More details are expected as court proceedings commence and authorities respond to the incident.
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