Martha Karua to be deported after being denied entry to Uganda
National
By
Mike Kihaki
| Jun 22, 2026
People Liberation Party leader Martha Karua is to be deported from Uganda after she was denied entry.
Karua had travelled to Kampala to join the defence team representing opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye and co-accused Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya before the Makindye Court.
Uganda Law Society said Karua arrived at the Entebbe International Airport aboard a Kenya Airways flight alongside Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama to attend proceedings in the high-profile case linked to alleged treason-related offences.
According to the society, while Kanjama and other members of the legal delegation were allowed into the country, Karua was reportedly stopped by immigration officials, denied entry, and instructed to return to Kenya without explanation.
The incident sparked immediate concern among legal and human rights observers, particularly after reports emerged that Karua’s phones became unreachable following her detention at the airport, raising fears over her safety and the conditions of confinement.
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Karua’s legal team later confirmed that she had been held at Entebbe Airport after arrival and that she had not been provided with any formal reason for the denial of entry.
The team further noted that she had travelled specifically to attend a bail hearing for her colleague Erias Lukwago, who is part of the defence team in the Besigye matter.
Karua, a former Kenyan Cabinet Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, is a senior member of both the Law Society of Kenya and the East Africa Law Society. She has been serving as lead counsel in the treason case involving Dr Besigye and Obeid Lutale in Uganda.
Kanjama, who was part of the delegation, condemned the incident, warning that it poses a threat to the independence of the legal profession.
“We are concerned about the targeting of lawyers who are representing clients in high-stakes litigation. Martha Karua is part of the legal team in the ongoing trial, and she was denied entry without explanation,” said Kanjama.
He added that the incident undermines the principle of an independent bar, stating:
“Without an independent bar, you cannot have a free and fair hearing. This is a serious concern for lawyers across East Africa.”
The Uganda Law Society has also called for clarification from authorities regarding the decision, saying it raises broader questions about cross-border legal practice and judicial fairness in politically sensitive cases.
Her deportation flight is expected to touchdown at JKIA this afternoon.