Renowned Kenyan lawyer and Senior Counsel Martha Karua was on Monday morning denied entry into Uganda upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, with immigration officials ordering her to return to Kenya immediately without giving any reason.
Karua, who is the lead counsel for veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide Obeid Lutale in an ongoing high-profile treason case, had travelled to Kampala to support the defence team of her colleague, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. Lukwago was expected to appear before the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court for a ruling on his bail application after being charged with misprision of treason and remanded to Luzira Prison.
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) confirmed the developments, stating that Karua was accompanied by Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama, SC, and other legal colleagues. While Kanjama and the rest of the delegation were cleared by immigration officials, Karua was singled out, blocked, and instructed to return to her home country without any explanation.
ULS Deputy President Antony Asiimwe, who was at Entebbe International Airport to welcome the regional delegation, expressed shock over the development. "We came to receive the team from Kenya... but when we reached the airport, we were made to understand that only two members of the team were allowed. Senior Counsel Martha Karua was not allowed to enter the country and she is being deported," Mr Asiimwe said. He added: "No reason was given for the denial of her entry. They just told her she can't enter Uganda".
In an official statement released by Karua's team hours after the airport drama, it was confirmed that she was detained with her team upon arrival, where immigration authorities denied her entry. The statement further revealed that Kanjama was permitted into the country, while Karua was detained and later deported due to her ties with Kizza Besigye.
Karua has since cut off her communication channels and remained unreachable, with her mobile phones switched off. Her senior team continues to await direct communication regarding her status and expected return.
This is not the first time Karua has faced obstacles in Uganda. In December 2024, the Uganda Law Council repeatedly denied her a temporary practicing certificate, citing procedural grounds and missing notarised documents from the Law Society of Kenya. The council later claimed the application appeared "politically motivated" rather than purely professional. She was eventually granted temporary clearance in early 2025 following a successful appeal.
Besigye has remained in pre-trial detention at Luzira Maximum Security Prison since November 2024, following his abduction in Nairobi, Kenya, and forceful rendition to Uganda, where he faces treason, treachery, and illegal firearms possession charges. His health has deteriorated significantly under near-total isolation, prompting alarm from his family and human rights organisations, while his repeated bail applications have been consistently denied despite court rulings barring civilians from facing military tribunals.
By press time, both the Ministry of Internal Affairs and immigration authorities had not yet issued an official statement explaining the legal grounds for denying entry to the prominent Kenyan lawyer. The Uganda Law Society has not indicated whether it will seek clarification from authorities regarding the circumstances surrounding Karua's denied entry.
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