News
Besigye, Lukwago lawyer Karua blocked at Entebbe Airport
Uganda Law Society (ULS) in a post on its X platform indicated that no reason was given by the security agencies that blocked her entry.
Uganda Law Society (ULS) Vice President Anthony Asiimwe takes a phone call while Kanjama looks on from behind. (Courtesy photo)
By: Charles Etukuri, Journalist @New Vision
_________________
Martha Karua, the lead lawyer representing detained opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale, was on Monday, June 22, 2026, denied entry at Entebbe International Airport and ordered to return to Kenya.
Uganda Law Society (ULS) in a post on its X platform indicated that no reason was given by the security agencies that blocked her entry.
“Karua had arrived in the country to join the defence team representing her defence colleague, Erias Lukwago, in the case involving Besigye and Lutale. Advocate Lukwago is set to be arraigned before the Makindye Court for bail hearing. While the colleagues she travelled with were allowed entry into the country, Karua was denied entry and instructed to return to her home country,” ULS said.
Among those who were allowed entry include Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama. Both the police and the Internal Affairs Ministry had not provided a comment by press time on why this action was taken.
Lukwago arrested, charged
On Monday last week, security agencies raided former Kampala Lord Mayor Lukwago’s home in Kampala and arrested him.
ALSO READ👉 Why Lukwago was charged, remanded to Luzira
ULS said Lukwago was abducted by members of the Special Forces Command and allegedly subjected to torture before being dropped at Kira division police station. He was later arraigned before the Makindye magistrate’s court on June 15, 2026, where he was charged with misprision of treason and later remanded to Luzira Prison.
Former Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago. (File photo)
Among those who were allowed entry include Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama. Both the police and the Internal Affairs Ministry had not provided a comment by press time on why this action was taken.
Lukwago arrested, charged
On Monday last week, security agencies raided former Kampala Lord Mayor Lukwago’s home in Kampala and arrested him.
ALSO READ👉 Why Lukwago was charged, remanded to Luzira
ULS said Lukwago was abducted by members of the Special Forces Command and allegedly subjected to torture before being dropped at Kira division police station. He was later arraigned before the Makindye magistrate’s court on June 15, 2026, where he was charged with misprision of treason and later remanded to Luzira Prison.
Lukwago, who is also the People’s Front for Freedom president, applied for bail last Thursday, citing ill health. However, the prosecution team asked for more time to scrutinise his medical documents, prompting Makindye Court Chief Magistrate Sarah Basemera to remand him until today. Basemera is expected to deliver the ruling on Lukwago’s bail application today.
Not the first denial
This will not be the first time Karua, a Kenyan politician and lawyer, is being blocked from entering an East African country. In May last year, Tanzania blocked and subsequently deported her. The incident occurred in Dar es Salaam, where she had traveled with other legal experts and activists to observe a politically sensitive treason case involving Tanzanian opposition leader, Tundu Lissu.
Karua, who is the leader of Kenya's People's Liberation Party, flew to Tanzania at the invitation of the East Africa Law Society to serve as a legal observer. Upon arrival at Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport, she and her delegation were detained, interrogated for several hours. She was subsequently put on a flight back to Nairobi.
Following the incident, Karua and former Kenyan Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, along with a group of human rights defenders, filed a lawsuit against the Tanzanian government at the East African Court of Justice. The suit alleges that the detention, refusal of entry, and deportation violated their fundamental rights as citizens of the East African Community and demands general damages and an official apology.
Not the first denial
This will not be the first time Karua, a Kenyan politician and lawyer, is being blocked from entering an East African country. In May last year, Tanzania blocked and subsequently deported her. The incident occurred in Dar es Salaam, where she had traveled with other legal experts and activists to observe a politically sensitive treason case involving Tanzanian opposition leader, Tundu Lissu.
Karua, who is the leader of Kenya's People's Liberation Party, flew to Tanzania at the invitation of the East Africa Law Society to serve as a legal observer. Upon arrival at Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport, she and her delegation were detained, interrogated for several hours. She was subsequently put on a flight back to Nairobi.
Following the incident, Karua and former Kenyan Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, along with a group of human rights defenders, filed a lawsuit against the Tanzanian government at the East African Court of Justice. The suit alleges that the detention, refusal of entry, and deportation violated their fundamental rights as citizens of the East African Community and demands general damages and an official apology.