Martha Karua's Airport Detention Sparks Outcry from Besigye Lawyers

Senior Kenyan politician and lawyer Martha Karua has reportedly been detained at Entebbe International Airport, sparking strong condemnation and calls for her release from the legal team representing Dr. Kizza Besigye.

According to a statement released on Monday by Besigye’s lawyers, Karua, a former Justice Minister in Kenya, is being held incommunicado and faces imminent deportation. The lawyers decried the alleged detention as unlawful and politically motivated, asserting that Karua has been denied access to her legal counsel, family, and diplomatic representatives.

Karua was in Uganda to attend court proceedings related to former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and to offer support to the defence of Dr. Besigye and his co-accused, Hajji Obeid Lutale and Capt. Denis Oola. The three are currently facing treason charges, accused of organizing meetings within and outside Uganda to plot the overthrow of the government.

The defence team views Karua’s detention as part of a broader pattern of intimidation targeting legal professionals involved in politically sensitive cases. They referenced recent social media posts by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, which they claim signal an escalating crackdown on individuals deemed “traitors.”

These posts, allegedly made between June 15 and June 19, reportedly warned of upcoming arrests and rejected criticism of the security establishment, alluding to a “Rectification Campaign.” The defence lawyers argue that these statements have cultivated a climate of fear that is now translating into action against the legal fraternity.

Furthermore, the lawyers highlighted previous alleged threats from the army chief to arrest individuals connected to the legal cases of Besigye and Lukwago. They contend that Karua’s detention and potential deportation violate fundamental rights, including personal liberty, the right to a fair hearing, access to legal counsel, and protections under the East African Community Treaty and the Vienna Convention.

The legal team has formally requested Karua’s immediate release, unrestricted access for her legal representatives and family, and a halt to any deportation proceedings until proper lawful procedures are observed and written justifications are provided. They have also appealed to the Uganda Law Society, the Law Society of Kenya, the East Africa Law Society, diplomatic missions, and international human rights organizations to intervene.

This incident unfolds amidst ongoing uncertainty surrounding the treason trial of Besigye, Lutale, and Oola, as well as a misprision of treason case against Erias Lukwago.

Source: The Observer (Uganda)