Martha Karua Boards Plane Back to Kenya After Being Turned Back at Entebbe Airport

EALS Condemns Uganda's Denial of Entry to Martha Karua

Senior Counsel and People’s Liberation Party (PLP) presidential aspirant Martha Karua has boarded a plane back to Kenya after the incident at Entebbe International Airport.

Karua made the confirmation through her official X page after being denied entry into Uganda.

“We can confirm that Presidential Aspirant and Senior Counsel Martha Karua has departed Entebbe and is en route to Nairobi following her detention and denial of entry by Ugandan authorities earlier today. Members of the media are invited to a press briefing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 4:00 PM upon her arrival, where she will address the circumstances surrounding her detention, denial of entry, and subsequent release. The incident raises serious questions about the observance of the rule of law and the state of democratic freedoms within the East African Community,” reads the statement.

Karua was reportedly detained at Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport after authorities denied her entry into the country.

According to a statement released by Karua’s office on Monday, June 22, she arrived in Uganda aboard a Kenya Airways flight together with Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama.

The two had traveled to attend a bail application ruling involving former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.

Karua’s office said Ugandan authorities allowed Kanjama to enter the country but stopped Karua at the airport.

The statement said Karua was being held at Entebbe and remained unreachable several hours after her arrival.

“Senior Counsel and PLP Presidential Aspirant Martha Karua has been detained at Entebbe International Airport after Ugandan authorities denied her entry into the country this morning,” the statement read.

Her team added that her mobile phones had been switched off and that they were still waiting for official communication about her status.

“Her senior team reports that she is unreachable, with her mobile phones switched off, and they continue to await direct communication regarding her status and expected return.”

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Martha Karua Detention Linked to Kizza Besigye’s Case

Karua currently serves as lead counsel for Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Obeid Lutale, in a treason case before Ugandan courts.

According to her office, she has remained actively involved in Besigye’s legal defense since his arrest and transfer to Uganda in November 2024.

The statement noted that Karua holds a valid legal practicing certificate issued in Uganda and registered through the law firm of Erias Lukwago.

Also Read:Muhoozi Says He Will Succeed Museveni as Uganda’s Next President

Concerns Over Treatment of Defense Lawyers

Karua’s office also linked the incident to recent developments involving Lukwago, who serves as co-lead counsel in Besigye’s defense team.

The statement said Lukwago was arrested during a raid at his residence by Uganda’s Special Forces Command on June 15.

He was later charged with misprision of treason, an offense related to concealing knowledge of a treasonous plot.

According to the statement, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, publicly confirmed Lukwago’s arrest through a post on his X account.

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