People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua was denied entry into Uganda on Monday after arriving at Entebbe International Airport.
The senior counsel had travelled to Kampala to join the legal team representing opposition politician Kizza Besigye and lawyer Erias Lukwago.
The development was confirmed by the Uganda Law Society.
The society said immigration officers stopped Karua from entering the country and instructed her to return to Kenya immediately. Officials reportedly did not provide reasons for the decision.
Karua travelled alongside Charles Kanjama, who was allowed to enter Uganda. According to the Uganda Law Society, Karua intended to support the defence team handling cases involving Besigye and Lukwago.
Besigye Remains in Detention
Besigye has remained in custody since November 2024. Authorities transferred him from Nairobi to Uganda, where prosecutors charged him with treason, treachery and illegal possession of firearms.
His lawyers and family have repeatedly raised concerns about his health and detention conditions.
Several rights groups have also questioned his prolonged detention and the repeated rejection of his bail applications. The veteran opposition leader remains one of President Yoweri Museveni’s longest-serving political rivals.
Lukwago also remains in legal trouble after authorities accused him of withholding information linked to an alleged treason plot.
Security officers reportedly arrested him at his home on June 15. The arrest came as he attempted to serve court papers to Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Authorities later charged him with misprision of treason before a court in Kampala. The court subsequently remanded him to prison as investigations continue.
Previous Legal Disputes
This is not the first time Karua has encountered obstacles while seeking to represent Besigye. In late 2024, the Uganda Law Council declined to grant her a temporary practising certificate.
The decision prevented her from appearing in Besigye’s case at the time. The council cited documentation and procedural concerns during the application process.
Karua later challenged the decision and eventually secured temporary clearance in early 2025.
The latest incident is likely to attract renewed attention from legal groups and opposition supporters across the region.
Critics of the Ugandan government have frequently accused authorities of using legal and administrative measures against opposition figures.
Supporters of the government maintain that state institutions are acting within the law. Karua’s blocked entry now adds another chapter to the ongoing legal and political battles surrounding Besigye and other opposition figures in Uganda.
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