Martha Karua with part of the Besigye legal team
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I When Dr. Besigye and Hajj Obedi Kamulegeya, suspects who are facing multiple charges appear in court today, Martha Karua, a Kenyan lawyer and opposition politician will just be a spectator.
She had applied for a temporary practicing license from the Uganda Law Council, through Lukwago and Company Advocates, a request which was turned down.
Officials at the Law Council sounded that the request was politically motivated, rather than purely professional.
Besigye, a former presidential candidate and his co-accused are battling charges which include possession of firearms at Riverside Apartments in Nairobi, Kenya, and allegedly holding meetings in Greece and Switzerland with the intent to undermine the security of the Ugandan army.
They are due to appear before Brigadier General Robert Freeman Mugabe, the Chairman of the General Court Martial, at Makindye today, from Luzira Prison where they are being held on remand.
Martha Karua talks to the Kampala Lord Mayor, Elias Lukwago, who is part of Dr Kiiza Besigye’s legal team
The two suspects were reportedly kidnapped last month while in Nairobi, Kenya, where they had attended a book launch event hosted by Martha Karua.
Karua is currently in Uganda, leading a team of 50 lawyers who are defending Dr. Besigye and Hajji Kamulegeya.
She vowed to work with her local colleagues to iron out critical issues that were raised by the Law Council, “whose stand goes against the laws of Uganda and the East African community.”
