National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) party leader Martha Karua has received a reprieve following a ruling at the General Court Martial (GCM) in Uganda, where she had traveled to represent opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
Karua suffered a setback on Monday, December 2, 2024, when she was unable to represent Besigye during his arraignment alongside his long-time ally, Hajji Obeid Lutale, citing that she had not yet received her special practicing certificate to do so.
Together with Besigye’s legal team, the Senior Counsel visited the Ugandan Law Council seeking an update on the temporary practicing certificate.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, Karua who is expected to lead the opposition leader’s legal team, said her application was yet to be processed at the time Besigye was being arraigned.
Karua explained that she applied for a license last week and was informed by the Uganda Law Council that they do not process digital applications.
The Council was expected to have a sitting urgently to address the matter after which an update on the matter would be issued on Tuesday.
“I have not yet had the right of audience in the army court because I am not yet licensed to practice in Uganda by the Law Council,” she told journalists at the GCM in Makindye, Kampala.
“So, my physical application was brought on Wednesday (November 27, 2024) and was taken [to the council] by the law firm of Lukwago and Co. Advocates. It has not yet been processed, but I have been promised by the Law Council chair, Justice Mulyagonja, that we may hear from them as early as tomorrow.”
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Karua reprieved
The Narc leader further expressed optimism about getting a temporary practicing license from the Council.
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However, the GCM in a ruling later on Monday served Karua a reprieve after directing Kizza Besigye to stay in custody for another week before his bail application is heard.
Besigye and his co-accused Lutale were remanded to Luzira Prison on charges of illegal possession of ammunition and a firearm.
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The court martial trial was adjourned on Monday to 10th December 2024 to allow time for Karua, who will be the lead counsel, to obtain the temporary practicing license.
Karua had also earlier expressed her dismay at what she described as a humiliating body search that she was subjected to twice, first at the GCM gate and as they entered the courtroom.
“And all members of the legal profession were also subjected [to this body search]; most people have left their briefcases at the gate,” Karua said.
Besigye was picked up in Nairobi by Uganda agents before being driven to Uganda and locked up in a military jail.
The Ugandan politician fell out with President Yoweri Museveni who has been in power since 1986.
He has unsuccessfully vied to unseat Museveni who is 80 years old.
Museveni has on several occasions unleashed state machinery to silence critics through arbitrary arrests and trumped-up charges.
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