The legal team representing opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye has criticised Ugandan authorities over the detention and alleged threatened deportation of Kenyan lawyer and politician Martha Karua, describing the incident as troubling for regional justice and democratic freedoms.
Karua, one of East Africa’s best-known constitutional lawyers and human rights advocates, was reportedly held by immigration and security officials shortly after arriving in Kampala.
According to sources close to Besigye’s defence team, she had travelled to Uganda to support legal and political engagements connected to opposition cases.
In a statement released shortly after the incident, Besigye’s lawyers said Karua’s treatment reflected a growing pattern of intimidation targeting individuals associated with politically sensitive matters.
The lawyers argued that denying access to legal counsel or frustrating the work of regional advocates threatens the principles of fair hearing and access to justice guaranteed under both Ugandan law and international legal frameworks.
They further warned that the incident could strain confidence in Uganda’s commitment to democratic governance and respect for legal institutions within the East African region.
Karua, a former Kenyan Minister of Justice and longtime opposition figure, has built a reputation for defending constitutional rights and speaking out against political repression across the continent.
The reports triggered concern among civil society organisations and opposition supporters, many of whom questioned why a senior legal practitioner from a neighbouring East African Community member state would face such treatment.
Authorities had not issued a full explanation by press time regarding the reasons behind her detention or the reported deportation threats.
The development comes at a time of increasing political tension in Uganda, where opposition groups continue to accuse security agencies of harassment, arbitrary arrests and restrictions on political freedoms ahead of the upcoming general elections.
