NAIROBI, Kenya Jun 23 – Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba has publicly claimed responsibility for the deportation of Kenyan senior counsel Martha Karua, stating that the decision was his alone.
In a post shared on X, Kainerugaba distanced his father, President Yoweri Museveni from the controversial move.
“Do not blame my great father for this decision. I deported her myself. She’s no longer allowed in our country,” Muhoozi said.
Karua had travelled to Uganda to attend court proceedings linked to opposition leader Kizza Besigye, where she is part of his legal team. She was accompanied by Charles Kanjama.
However, Karua alleged that upon arrival, she was detained by Ugandan authorities and subsequently deported, preventing her from participating in the legal proceedings involving lawyer and politician Erias Lukwago.
The Law Society of Kenya urged Ugandan authorities to explain the denial of entry to Senior Counsel Martha Karua, warning that the incident raises broader concerns about the rule of law and the ability of advocates to freely discharge their professional duties within the East African Community.
LSK said Karua was denied entry into Uganda while travelling to observe the arraignment of Kampala Lord Mayor and senior lawyer Erias Lukwago and support efforts aimed at safeguarding the rights of a fellow member of the legal profession.
The lawyers’ body noted the development came days after the arrest and detention of Lukwago, who serves as lead counsel in proceedings involving opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his co-accused Hajji Obeid Lutale.
Meanwhile, Senior Counsel bar raised concern over what it termed ‘incommunicado detention’ and the threatened deportation, calling for immediate cessation of the process and unimpeded access to Karua by her lawyers, family, and the Kenyan diplomatic mission.