Martha Karua Denied Entry into Uganda Ahead of Besigye, Lukwago Court Proceedings
According to the Ugandan Law Society, Karua was accompanied by Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama during the trip.
People's Liberation Party Leader Martha Karua. Photo/Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
The leader of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Martha Karua, was denied entry into Uganda on Monday morning after arriving at Entebbe International Airport for a legal mission linked to prominent Ugandan opposition figures.
The incident was confirmed by the Ugandan Law Society, which said immigration authorities blocked Karua from entering the country and instructed her to return to Kenya without providing any explanation.
Karua had travelled to Kampala as part of the legal team representing veteran Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye and prominent city lawyer Erias Lukwago, who is currently facing charges of misprision of treason.
According to the Ugandan Law Society, Karua was accompanied by Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama during the trip.
“Dr Kizza Besigye’s and Obeid Lutale’s lead counsel, Hon. Martha Karua, SC, was denied entry at Entebbe International Airport and ordered to return without being given a reason,” the society said in a statement.
The organisation further indicated that Kanjama was allowed entry while Karua was turned away by immigration officials.
The development has reignited concerns over the treatment of opposition figures and legal practitioners involved in high-profile political cases in Uganda.
Karua had travelled to support Besigye’s legal defence as well as that of Lukwago, whose arrest and prosecution have attracted widespread attention within legal and human rights circles.
Besigye has remained in detention at Luzira Maximum Security Prison since November 2024 following his controversial arrest in Nairobi and subsequent transfer to Uganda, where authorities charged him with treason, treachery and illegal possession of firearms.
His detention has sparked criticism from human rights organisations and opposition groups, who argue that his health has deteriorated while in custody. Several of his applications for bail have also been rejected despite legal challenges surrounding the prosecution of civilians before military courts.
Lukwago, one of Uganda’s most prominent lawyers and political figures, was remanded to prison last week after prosecutors accused him of withholding information regarding an alleged treason plot linked to Besigye.
According to reports, Lukwago was arrested on June 15 at his home in Wakaliga by armed men dressed in military uniforms while attempting to serve court documents to Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
He was allegedly held incommunicado for two days in an unregistered military facility before being transferred to police custody.
Images later circulated online showing Lukwago blindfolded, drawing condemnation from rights groups and legal organisations.
Following his appearance before the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lukwago was charged with misdemeanor treason. Prosecutors alleged that he failed to disclose information relating to an alleged plot involving Besigye between 2021 and 2024.
Monday’s incident is not the first time Karua has faced obstacles while attempting to represent Besigye in Uganda.
In December 2024, the Uganda Law Council initially declined to grant her a temporary practising certificate, preventing her from appearing before a military court during the early stages of Besigye’s case.
The council cited procedural deficiencies, including documentation requirements, before later arguing that her application appeared politically motivated. Karua subsequently appealed the decision and was eventually granted temporary clearance in early 2025.
The latest development is likely to intensify scrutiny of Uganda’s handling of opposition figures and legal representatives involved in politically sensitive cases.
The government of President Yoweri Museveni has repeatedly faced criticism from local and international observers over its treatment of political opponents.
Critics have pointed to cases involving Besigye and opposition leader Bobi Wine as examples of what they describe as shrinking political space in the East African nation.
Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, secured another term in office following Uganda’s last presidential election, extending his decades-long rule.
As of Monday afternoon, Ugandan immigration authorities had not publicly explained the reasons behind Karua’s exclusion, leaving fresh questions over the legal and political implications of the decision as proceedings involving Besigye and Lukwago continue.
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