Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua has sued the Ugandan government over her deportation and the decision to declare her persona non grata, arguing that the actions have interfered with her ability to represent jailed opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye in his ongoing treason trial.
Karua has filed the case jointly with the Uganda Law Society (ULS), naming the Attorney General as a respondent in the legal challenge.
The lawsuit challenges a decision made by the Principal Immigration Officer at Entebbe International Airport on June 22, 2026, when Karua was denied entry into Uganda.
Karua, a prominent Kenyan lawyer and politician, has been involved in efforts to provide legal representation to Besigye, who is facing treason charges in Uganda.
She argues that being blocked from entering the country has affected her ability to carry out her professional duties and participate in Besigye’s ongoing legal proceedings.
The case raises questions about immigration decisions involving foreign lawyers seeking to represent clients in Uganda, as well as the ability of accused persons to access legal representation of their choice.
The Uganda Law Society’s participation in the lawsuit places the country’s legal profession alongside Karua in challenging the decision. The applicants are seeking legal redress over the circumstances surrounding her deportation and the declaration that she was persona non grata.
The outcome of the case could have implications for Karua’s involvement in Besigye’s defence and may also bring further judicial scrutiny to the government’s handling of foreign lawyers seeking to represent clients in politically sensitive cases.
