Politics 22 June 2026 Nile Post
Martha Karua Denied Entry to Uganda, Further Halting Besigye's Defense
Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua was denied entry into Uganda at Entebbe International Airport, a significant blow to opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye's defense team, which is already facing challenges with lead counsel Erias Lukwago in detention. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/350356/karua-denied-entry-into-uganda-as-besigye-defence-team-faces-new-setback
Prominent Kenyan lawyer and former Justice Minister Martha Karua has been barred from entering Uganda, marking another setback for the legal defense of opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye.
Karua arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Monday but was reportedly instructed by immigration officials to return to Kenya without any explanation. She had traveled with the President of the Law Society of Kenya, Charles Kanjama, who was permitted entry, while Karua was denied access.
This development occurs at a critical juncture for Besigye’s defense team. The team is already operating shorthanded due to the recent arrest and detention of its lead Ugandan counsel, Erias Lukwago. Lukwago faces charges of misprision of treason and is currently remanded in prison.
Karua has been an integral part of Dr. Besigye’s multinational defense since early 2025, frequently traveling to Kampala to represent the veteran opposition figure in high-profile military and civilian cases. She has consistently advocated for Besigye’s right to a fair hearing and has questioned the legality of his detention and the conduct of the proceedings.
Her exclusion from the country leaves Besigye’s defense team without two of its most experienced lawyers on the ground in Uganda, compounding the difficulties they face in representing Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale, and Captain Denis Oola, who are all facing treason charges.
Source: Nile Post