A dramatic standoff unfolded at Entebbe International Airport on Monday after Kenyan Senior Counsel and veteran politician Martha Karua was denied entry into Uganda, triggering an uproar among lawyers, political commentators and human rights activists across the East African region.
Karua, who leads the legal team representing opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye and was expected to reinforce the defence of jailed Kampala lawyer and former Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, was stopped by immigration officials shortly after landing and ordered to return to Kenya.
Her detention immediately sparked accusations that Ugandan authorities were attempting to weaken the legal defence of high-profile opposition politicians, while security sources insisted the decision was based on national security considerations and Uganda’s sovereign right to regulate entry into its territory.
SECURITY’S UNTOLD CONCERNS
Highly placed security sources told The Investigator that Karua’s intended visit had attracted close scrutiny because of the politically sensitive nature of the cases involving Besigye, Lukwago and Obeid Lutale.”Karua had not been cleared by security. This is a sovereign state which determines who enters or leaves its borders,” a senior security official said.
According to sources familiar with the decision, security agencies viewed Karua not merely as a lawyer but also as an active politician in neighbouring Kenya whose political profile required additional consideration before being granted access.
Officials privately expressed concern that some of the political mobilisation tactics witnessed during Kenya’s recent opposition protests could potentially be replicated in Uganda if foreign political actors became directly involved in local opposition activities.
“We don’t take anything for granted,” another security source said. “These are highly sensitive proceedings involving individuals facing serious criminal charges.”
Although authorities have not publicly detailed the specific reasons for denying her entry, insiders maintain the decision was taken after consultations among security agencies responsible for national security.
DEFENCE TEAM CRIES FOUL
The decision, however, immediately drew condemnation from members of the legal fraternity.
Charles Kanjama SC, President of the Law Society of Kenya, who travelled alongside Karua and was himself allowed into Uganda, questioned why one member of the same defence team would be admitted while another was rejected.
“I am in Uganda as part of the defence team representing Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago in the ongoing treason proceedings. Of particular concern is the decision by Ugandan authorities to deny entry to Senior Counsel Martha Karua, who was travelling to Uganda for the same matter and in the same professional capacity,” Kanjama said.He added that the right to legal representation and the independence of lawyers are fundamental pillars of justice.
“It is difficult to understand why one member of a defence team should be admitted while another is turned away. We call upon the Ugandan authorities to provide an explanation for this action and to uphold the rule of law and regional cooperation that underpin the East African legal community.”
Lawyer Eron Kiiza described the incident as another attempt to frustrate the defence team representing Besigye and Lukwago.According to Kiiza, Karua was denied entry without explanation and held at Entebbe Airport while arrangements were made for her return to Kenya.
“This is the latest attempt to intimidate the Besigye legal defence team she leads and stop her from supporting Erias Lukwago,” he posted on social media.
The Uganda Law Society also confirmed that Karua had travelled to Uganda to join the legal team representing Lukwago in proceedings connected to the Besigye case but was instructed to return despite other members of her delegation being allowed into the country.
LUKWAGO’S HEALTH RAISES ALARM
The controversy unfolded as Lukwago appeared before court seeking bail amid growing concern over his deteriorating health.Former Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura painted a grim picture of Lukwago’s physical condition following his recent incarceration.
“The spinal disc that was carefully fixed during delicate spinal surgery was dislocated during the horrific torture he endured,” Nyanjura said.She added that Lukwago urgently requires physiotherapy and specialised medical attention following complications allegedly arising from his detention.
“It breaks my heart seeing counsel Lukwago in so much pain and helpless. Today he is visibly weaker, more frail, and fading much faster than just last Thursday when he was last in court. I pray the magistrate finds it in her heart to grant him bail before it is too late.”
POLITICAL COMMENTATORS SPEAK OUT
Political commentator Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, argued that denying a lawyer entry into Uganda because of the client they represent raises serious concerns about access to justice and the independence of legal counsel.
She maintained that every accused person is entitled to legal representation of their choice and warned that actions perceived as interfering with defence lawyers risk undermining public confidence in the administration of justice.
Nyanjura similarly questioned the timing of Karua’s exclusion, saying it came at a critical stage when Lukwago’s legal team was preparing to seek his release on bail.According to Nyanjura, preventing one of the region’s most prominent constitutional lawyers from participating in the proceedings sends a worrying signal about Uganda’s commitment to fair trial standards.
LAWYERS CITE RULE OF LAW
Several leading Kampala lawyers also weighed in on the controversy.Some senior advocates, while acknowledging that every sovereign state retains the legal authority to regulate immigration, argued that such powers should be exercised transparently, particularly where the individual concerned is travelling in a professional legal capacity.
Others observed that East African Community integration has encouraged greater cooperation among lawyers practising across member states, making Karua’s exclusion likely to generate wider debate within regional legal circles.
Legal analysts further noted that while immigration decisions are generally discretionary, the absence of publicly stated reasons often fuels speculation and raises questions about whether broader constitutional rights may be affected.
A GROWING REGIONAL DEBATE
Karua has, over the years, established herself as one of East Africa’s most respected constitutional lawyers and democracy advocates. She has represented opposition politicians in several high-profile cases and has become an increasingly visible figure in Uganda’s legal battles involving Dr. Besigye.
Her exclusion is expected to strain relations within regional legal organisations, particularly after the Law Society of Kenya publicly questioned Uganda’s decision.The incident also comes against the backdrop of increasing scrutiny of Uganda’s handling of politically sensitive prosecutions, with civil society organisations continuing to call for greater respect for due process and judicial independence.
As debate intensifies, government officials remain firm that immigration decisions ultimately fall within Uganda’s sovereign mandate, while critics insist that the denial of entry to a member of a defence team risks creating the perception that legal representation itself has become politicised.
With Lukwago’s bail application, Besigye’s ongoing prosecution and Karua’s exclusion now converging into one unfolding story, the courtroom drama has evolved into a regional test of the balance between national security, state sovereignty and the right to a fair trial.
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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