Opposition leaders and supporters on Tuesday morning gathered at the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) offices at Plot 6, Katonga Road, Kampala, Uganda to condemn the deportation of Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua, describing the move as a threat to justice and the right to legal representation.
Karua, who leads the defense team of opposition figures Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale in an ongoing treason case, was denied entry into Uganda upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport on June 22, 2026.
The veteran Kenyan lawyer reportedly held a valid practicing license but was blocked from entering the country and declared persona non grata. While Ugandan authorities have not officially explained the decision, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba publicly stated that he was responsible for Karua’s exclusion.
Speaking to journalists at the PFF headquarters, opposition leaders accused the government of interfering with the legal process and demanded the immediate reversal of Karua’s persona non grata status.
They argued that denying a lawyer access to her clients compromises the principles of due process, fair hearing, and access to justice, especially in politically sensitive cases.
The opposition also warned that the incident raises fresh concerns about the independence of Uganda’s judiciary and the treatment of lawyers representing government critics.
Karua’s deportation has sparked widespread debate in Uganda and across the East African region, drawing reactions from legal professionals, political activists, and human rights advocates. Many have questioned the implications of barring a lawyer from participating in a high-profile case involving opposition figures.
With pressure mounting on authorities to explain the decision, the controversy continues to intensify political and legal tensions surrounding the treason trial of Besigye and Lutale, while reigniting broader discussions about the rule of law and political freedoms in Uganda.
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