Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Muhoozi Kainerugaba has claimed responsibility for the ejection of Senior Counsel and Peoples Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua from Uganda on Monday.
Muhoozi, who has previously drawn attention for his controversial and unfiltered social media remarks, is the son of President Yoweri Museveni. He clarified that the decision to briefly detain Karua and subsequently deport her without explanation was his alone and not his father’s.
He further stated that the Kenyan opposition leader would no longer be allowed entry into Uganda.
"Do not blame my great father for this decision. I deported her myself. She's no longer allowed in our country,” the Ugandan CDF wrote on X.
For the outspoken lawyer and politician, what was intended to be a short visit to neighbouring Uganda turned into a dramatic ordeal after she arrived at Entebbe International Airport.
Lawyer Martha Karua speaks at JKIA after her deportation from Uganda, where she was detained at Entebbe International Airport amid growing diplomatic tensions. (Photo: Handout)
Karua had travelled as part of a delegation attending a bail hearing for detained advocate Erias Lukwago, who, alongside her, represents opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye.
However, upon disembarking, she was stopped by immigration officials and informed that her entry had been denied.
“I asked them why they were snatching my phone because they were snatching it rudely; I was told I wasn’t being allowed entry due to security reasons,” she said.
Her difficulties did not end there. While still en route back to Nairobi, she later learned that she had been placed on a permanent ban from entering Uganda.
“I had been told there was a possibility of a red alert on my name for travel to Uganda,” she added.
Her deportation has sparked strong criticism from human rights and democracy activists, who have questioned East Africa’s commitment to regional integration and democratic principles.
“What I have realised now is that East Africa has shrunk…this is my second deportation. I was barred from entry into Tanzania for daring to go and witness the trial of Tundu Lissu, yet their constitution says criminal trial is a public thing which anybody can go to,” Karua noted.
Ramadhan Abubakar, President of the East Africa Law Society, said: “There is a trend emerging in the region; this is not the first time a Kenyan lawyer is being denied entry; last year, Karua and Mutunga were denied entry (into Tanzania) for Tundu Lissu.”
Karua further argued that her designation as persona non grata, combined with the arrest of Erias Lukwago, could undermine the fairness of Dr Kizza Besigye’s ongoing trial.
“When they deny entry for Besigye’s lead lawyer and incarcerate his other counsel, that is a denial of Besigye’s right to a fair trial, and as I wondered last week under those circumstances, Besigye cannot get a fair trial in the courts of Uganda,” she said.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and Uganda Law Society have condemned the incident, while the East African Law Society says it will move to court to challenge the decision and demand clarity on Karua’s deportation and travel ban.
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