Ugandan officials have effectively barred former Kenyan Justice Minister Martha Karua from entering the country, forcing her to return to Nairobi after she arrived at Entebbe airport. Karua, a prominent lawyer, intended to join the defense team for Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who is currently facing treason charges.
Besigye has been held in custody since his return to Uganda in late 2024. The situation has drawn scrutiny from the Law Society of Kenya, particularly because Karua’s colleague, Charles Kanjama, was permitted entry despite traveling for the same professional purpose.
Karua, who has previously faced legal hurdles in other jurisdictions including Tanzania, described the move as politically motivated. While the Ugandan government has remained silent on the specific reasons for the travel ban, the incident highlights the intensifying legal and political friction surrounding the treason case.
As the regional legal community demands answers, the Ugandan authorities continue to hold the line on their sovereign right to control their borders and manage internal judicial proceedings.
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