Kenyan lawyer and senior counsel Martha Karua has been denied entry into Uganda upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport.
Karua, who is part of the defence team for Dr Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale, was reportedly ordered to return to her home country without being given an official reason.
She had travelled alongside Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama, who was, however, allowed entry into the country.
Karua had arrived to join the legal team representing her colleague, Erias Lukwago, in a case involving Besigye and Lutale.
Lukwago is expected to be arraigned before the Makindye Magistrates Court.
While other members of the delegation were granted access into Uganda, Karua was singled out and denied entry, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the decision.
“I am in Uganda as part of the defence team representing Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago in the ongoing treason proceedings. Of particular concern is the decision by Ugandan Authorities to deny entry to Senior Counsel Karua, who was travelling to Uganda for the same matter and in the same professional capacity,” Kanjama said.
He said the right to legal representation and the independence of counsel are fundamental to the administration of justice.
“It is difficult to understand why one member of a defence team should be admitted while another is turned away. We call upon the Ugandan authorities to provide an explanation for this action and to uphold the rule of law and regional cooperation that underpin the East African Law Society,” he said.
Authorities had not issued an official statement on the matter by press time.
