Martha Karua’s Uganda Deportation “More Egregious” Than Tanzania Incident, Says Defense Lawyer Kiiza Eron
KAMPALA, Uganda — Prominent Ugandan human rights lawyer Kiiza Eron has strongly condemned the forced deportation of Kenyan political leader and Senior Counsel Martha Karua from Uganda, describing the state’s actions as a direct assault on the right to legal representation.
Karua, who serves as the lead counsel on incarcerated opposition icon Dr. Kizza Besigye’s defense team, was detained at Entebbe International Airport on Monday and subsequently issued a persona non grata declaration before being flown back to Nairobi.
A Direct Strike at the Defense Team
Speaking out against the incident, Kiiza Eron highlighted the profound implications Karua’s exclusion has on the ongoing high-profile treason case involving Dr. Besigye.
According to Eron, while Karua has previously faced entry blocks within the East African Community (EAC), the targeted nature of this latest deportation makes it unprecedented.
“Martha Karua’s deportation from Uganda and her unlawful declaration as persona non grata is even more egregious than the blocking in Tanzania because she is the lead counsel on Kizza Besigye’s defence team,” Eron stated.
The comparison references a May 2025 incident where Tanzanian authorities blocked and deported Karua from Dar es Salaam, where she had traveled to observe the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu. Eron argued that while the Tanzania incident obstructed trial observation, Uganda’s move actively strips a detained defendant of their chosen lead legal representation.
Incommunicado at Entebbe
Karua arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Monday morning alongside Charles Kanjama, the President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), and other legal colleagues. The delegation intended to provide legal solidarity and follow court proceedings for both Dr. Besigye and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who was recently arrested and slapped with treason-related charges.
While the rest of the Kenyan legal delegation was cleared for entry, immigration officials singled out Karua. According to reports, her mobile phones were temporarily confiscated, and she was informed by principal immigration officers that she was barred from entering the country due to unspecified “security concerns.” She was held under guard until she was placed on a return flight to Nairobi, where she was handed the formal persona non grata letter.
Shrinking Space for Justice
The deportation has triggered widespread condemnation from regional legal bodies and human rights organizations, who view it as part of a coordinated campaign to destabilize Dr. Besigye’s defense. Dr. Besigye has remained in state custody for over 500 days following his high-profile abduction from Nairobi in late 2024.
With both local and international lawyers on Besigye’s team facing mounting state pressure—including the recent detention of co-counsel Erias Lukwago—Eron and other rights defenders warn that Uganda’s judicial independence is being systematically eroded to ensure political outcomes.
Karua has since announced intentions to seek legal redress against the Ugandan government through the East African Court of Justice or the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
