HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Political interference has been cited as one of the main reasons why Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua was denied entry into Uganda and deported shortly after arriving at Entebbe International Airport, a move that has sparked outrage among lawyers, human rights advocates and opposition supporters across East Africa.
Ugandan authorities have not provided any official explanation for blocking and deporting Karua upon her arrival on June 22, 2026. However, her legal team, the Uganda Law Society (ULS), and regional observers believe the action was politically motivated and intended to undermine legal representation for opposition figures facing politically sensitive charges.
Karua, a former Kenyan Justice Minister and one of East Africa’s most prominent legal practitioners, had travelled to Kampala to attend court proceedings involving former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and to continue her role as lead counsel for veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale, who are facing treason charges.
Her deportation came at a particularly critical moment. On the same day she arrived in Uganda, Lukwago was expected in the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court for a ruling on his bail application. Lukwago is not only a prominent opposition politician but also a member of Besigye’s legal defence team. He was arrested on June 15 and later charged with misprision of treason, an offence arising from allegations that he concealed knowledge of an alleged treason plot linked to Besigye’s case.
Observers and members of the defence team believe Karua’s presence in Kampala would have strengthened legal support for both Lukwago and Besigye at a time when their cases have attracted significant national and international attention.
According to statements from the Uganda Law Society and Besigye’s defence team, Karua arrived at Entebbe alongside several senior Kenyan lawyers, including Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama. While Kanjama and other members of the delegation were allowed into Uganda, Karua alone was denied entry and informed that she would be deported.
The selective nature of the decision has raised questions about whether authorities specifically targeted Karua because of her prominent role in opposition-related legal battles.
Reports from her legal team indicate that she was detained at the airport, denied access to lawyers and family members, and held incommunicado for several hours. Her mobile phones were reportedly switched off, making it impossible for colleagues and relatives to contact her.
A statement from Karua’s executive office said that by early afternoon she remained unreachable despite plans to return to Nairobi later that day. The defence team described the situation as unlawful detention and condemned the treatment as an attack on the legal profession.
“We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the detention of Senior Counsel Martha Karua at Entebbe International Airport,” Besigye’s lawyers said in a statement. They argued that detaining and deporting a lawyer for performing professional duties amounted to “an assault not on one person but on the administration of justice itself.”
The defence team further alleged that the deportation formed part of a broader pattern of interference targeting lawyers representing opposition figures. They described the move as “the deliberate dismantling of a legal team by extra-judicial means,” arguing that it deprived Besigye, Lutale and Lukwago of critical regional legal support.
Lawyers also cited concerns about violations of constitutional protections, regional treaties and international legal standards. They argued that the incident undermined provisions guaranteeing liberty, access to counsel and fair hearing rights, while also conflicting with principles of free movement under the East African Community Treaty.
The Uganda Law Society, the Law Society of Kenya and the East Africa Law Society all expressed concern over the incident, warning that it could have wider implications for cross-border legal practice and judicial cooperation within the region.
Karua has been actively involved in Besigye’s defence since his controversial arrest in Nairobi in November 2024 and has practised in Uganda under a valid legal certificate linked to Lukwago’s law firm. Her deportation therefore came as a surprise to many within the legal fraternity.
As pressure mounts on Ugandan authorities to explain their actions, the incident has intensified debate about judicial independence, political freedoms and the ability of lawyers to represent clients in politically charged cases without intimidation. For critics, Karua’s deportation is not merely an immigration matter but a development that raises serious questions about the rule of law and the protection of legal rights in Uganda.
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