The Ugandan government, under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni, has denied Senior Counsel Martha entry into Uganda after immigration authorities at Entebbe International Airport reportedly reversed an earlier decision allowing the entry.
According to the Uganda Law Society, Vice President Asiimwe Anthony said at Entebbe Airport that Senior Counsel Martha Karua, one of the lawyers, was denied entry by authorities and ordered back to Kenya.
“The unfortunate bit is that the senior counsel, Martha Karua, who is also unable to come to attend, because she’s one of the lawyers, has just been denied entry. After being cleared, she was called back and told she can’t get into the country,” Vice President Asiimwe Anthony stated on June 22.
Martha Karua had traveled to Kampala to support the defense team of her former Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Additionally, the senior counsel had been part of the defense team for Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye and Hajj Obeid Lutale, in an ongoing treason case.
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Uganda Law Society (ULS) on Martha Karua’s Blocking
Among those present at Entebbe International Airport was a delegation from the Uganda Law Society (ULS), including the Vice President of the ULS, the treasurer, and advocates, to welcome the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) members.
On behalf of the ULS President, Isaac Ssemakadde, Vice President Asiimwe Anthony welcomed the LSK delegation.
However, upon arrival, President Charles Kanjama and the team were allowed entry, while Karua was singled out, blocked by immigration without any official reason given, and ordered to return.
Following her entry denial to Uganda, the ULS delegation raised concerns about the bias experienced at the Entebbe International Airport.
Karua’s access denial comes minutes before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Makindye convened to deliver a ruling on the bail application of Mr Lukwago, who is facing charges of misprision of treason.
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Martha Karua on Former Kampala Mayor Case
Before she was denied access to Uganda, Karua was expected to support the defense team in the case involving the former Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago, who had been remanded to Luzira Prison a week earlier before the delivery of the ruling on the bail application on June 22.
According to the Ugandan government, the former Kampala mayor was alleged to have failed to disclose information about a treason plot involving Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye and Hajj Obeid Lutale.
Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye and Hajj Obeid Lutale, who were also represented by the Kenyan senior counsel Martha Karua, had been arraigned before a military court.
The arraignment of the two opposition figures before the military court, on charges of treason, followed their repatriation from Nairobi.
People’s Liberation Party (PLP) Statement On Karua Detention
The People’s Liberation Party (PLP) has stated the denied entry to Uganda of the PLP Presidential Aspirant, Martha Karua, was denied entry to Uganda.
According to the PLP, Karua was scheduled to return to Nairobi but has remained incommunicado, making it difficult for her senior team to reach her while they await an update on her status.
“Karua was scheduled to return to Nairobi today but remains incommunicado. Her senior team reports that she is unreachable, with her mobile phones switched off. They continue to await direct communication regarding her status and expected return,” the PLP statement dated June 22 read.
Further, the PLP have clarified that, despite Karua being a Kenyan citizen, she was leading the defense team in Uganda under a valid legal practicing certificate issued in Uganda and registered through the law firm of Erias Lukwago.
Kizza Besigye Defense Team
Kizza Besigye Defense Team has condemned the unlawful detention of the Karua, stating that her incommunicado detention is linked to General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni, citing his social account publications.
According to the defense team, Muhoozi had declared that the arrest of opposition figure Erias Lukwago was the beginning of a rectification campaign in Uganda, adding that the list of arrests was longer on June 19.
Further, on June 15, the General issued an open threat to criminalize anyone who supported the former Kampala mayor, Lukwago. On the same day, Muhoozi publicly denied the Uganda Law Society’s defense of the rule of law.
Following the threatened expulsion of Senior Counsel Martha Besigye, the defense team argued that Articles 23, 28 and 44 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda were violated.
Further, the incommunicado state of Karua disregarded the Article 24 and the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act, Cap. 130, as well as the Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
The defense team has therefore called for the immediate cessation of Karua’s incommunicado detention and the halting of any impending unlawful deportation.
“We accordingly demand the immediate cessation of the incommunicado detention of Senior Counsel Karua and unimpeded access to her by her lawyers, her family, and the Kenyan diplomatic mission and that any deportation be halted pending lawful determination, reasons furnished in writing, and her right to challenge the decision respected,” Kizza Besigye Defense Team demanded.
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