This Martha Karua incident honestly feels very unsettling,especially because it happened at airport itself and without any official explanation . A distinguished Kenyan lawyer and former Justice Minister reaching Uganda to support legal team,and then being told to go back to Kenya just like that… not small thing ah.
Karua arrived at Entebbe airport on June 22,2026 to support her colleague Erias Lukwago,who is currently defending detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye . But Ugandan authorities reportedly barred her from entering and ordered her to return to Kenya .
And what makes it more strange is that Charles Kanjama,President of Kenya's Law Society and colleague who travelled with Karua,was allowed to enter Uganda . Same trip,same legal context,but different treatment.
Uganda Law Society confirmed denial of entry,and legal community reacted quickly . Kanjama also posted concerns on social media,pointing out how troubling it is when one member of defence team is excluded while another is admitted.
Few things standing out clearly here:
- Martha Karua was barred from entering Uganda on June 22,2026 without any official explanation.
- Charles Kanjama was allowed to enter Uganda while Karua was ordered back to Kenya.
- Kizza Besigye's ongoing trial involves serious treason charges and has already raised human rights concerns .
And tbh,this is not looking like simple airport issue . When lawyer linked to opposition case is stopped at border,it naturally creates questions about political freedom,legal access and how defence teams are being treated.
There is also wider background here . Lukwago recently appeared in court looking visibly weak after being arrested at his home . He denied charges related to Besigye's case and was remanded in custody .
Besigye's own situation has been controversial since his abduction from Kenya and forced return to Uganda in late 2024 . That episode already triggered debates over legal jurisdiction and human rights violations,so Karua being blocked now adds another uncomfortable layer.
Karua has faced such hurdles before also . She previously had her application to practice in Uganda rejected,and last year,she was deported from Tanzania while trying to attend court case of opposition leader Tundu Lissu,who also faces treason charges .
But bigger question is this: if regional lawyers and opposition-linked figures keep facing barriers like this,then what happens to fair legal defence and political freedoms in this part of East Africa…
