KAMPALA – Kenyan Senior Counsel and People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua was on Monday denied entry into Uganda and deported to Nairobi after immigration authorities declared her a prohibited immigrant.
Ms Karua arrived at Entebbe International Airport in the morning intending to attend court proceedings involving Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and to support the legal team representing opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajji Obeid Lutale.
However, shortly after her arrival, immigration officials blocked her entry and directed the airline that had transported her to return her to Kenya.
An official notice issued by Uganda’s Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control indicated that Ms Karua had been classified as a prohibited immigrant under the country’s immigration laws. The notice did not provide further details regarding the decision.
The development immediately drew reactions from legal bodies in both Uganda and Kenya, with lawyers questioning the circumstances under which the veteran advocate was denied entry.
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) was among the first institutions to raise concern, saying Ms Karua had been prevented from entering the country without being given reasons.
“Dr Kizza Besigye’s and Obeid Lutale’s lead counsel, Hon Martha Karua, SC, denied entry at Entebbe International Airport. She has been ordered to return without being given a reason,” the society said in a statement.
Ms Karua’s team later confirmed that she had been detained by immigration officials upon arrival before being placed on a return flight to Nairobi.
“Senior Counsel and PLP Presidential Aspirant Martha Karua has been detained at Entebbe International Airport after Ugandan authorities denied her entry into the country this morning,” a statement from her office said.
The incident also prompted a response from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), which said Ms Karua had travelled to Uganda to observe court proceedings and support efforts aimed at safeguarding the rights of legal practitioners involved in politically sensitive cases.
“The reported decision to deny her entry therefore raises concerns that extend beyond the circumstances of a single individual,” the LSK said, calling on Ugandan authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the decision.
Ms Karua has in recent years become closely associated with legal defence efforts involving opposition politicians across East Africa. In Uganda, she joined the legal team representing Dr Besigye following his arrest and detention on charges including treason, treachery and unlawful possession of firearms.
Dr Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, has been detained at Luzira Prison since November 2024 after he was arrested in Nairobi and transferred to Uganda.
Monday’s deportation also revives memories of a dispute between Ms Karua and Uganda’s Law Council in late 2024. At the time, the council declined to grant her a temporary practising certificate, effectively blocking her from appearing in court on behalf of Dr Besigye. The decision was later challenged, paving the way for her admission to practice before Ugandan courts.
The latest development comes amid heightened public interest in a number of ongoing cases involving opposition figures.
Mr Lukwago is facing charges of misprision of treason, while proceedings involving Dr Besigye and Mr Lutale continue to attract attention from local and international human rights groups, lawyers and political observers.
By press time, officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control had not publicly provided a detailed explanation for Ms Karua’s exclusion beyond the notice declaring her a prohibited immigrant.
The decision is likely to trigger further debate within the East African legal community, where cross-border legal representation and cooperation have become increasingly common in high-profile litigation involving political and human rights issues.