Lawyers’ body says Kenyan justice minister was prevented from entering Uganda to visit detained opposition leader

A lawyers’ group in Uganda said that Martha Karua, a former Kenyan justice minister who is also a practicing lawyer, was prevented from entering the country while she was traveling to represent detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye ahead of proceedings in his ongoing treason trial.

Karua’s attempt to enter Uganda was reported on June 22, 2026, through Uganda’s Uganda Law Society, which said it was acting in support of her representation of Besigye, who is currently in custody and appearing before a court on treason-related charges.

According to the group, Karua’s role is as counsel for Besigye, a prominent opposition figure whose case has drawn sustained attention from political parties, rights advocates, and international observers. The lawyers’ organization said the border denial disrupted planned access tied to the trial process.

Uganda has not been described in the reporting as issuing a detailed public explanation for blocking Karua’s entry in the account provided to this desk. The incident was framed by the lawyers’ body as interfering with legal representation and access to a detainee facing serious charges.

Besigye, who is associated with Uganda’s opposition politics, has been held while his case continues in court on treason allegations. The reporting indicates that Karua’s access was part of the legal arrangements around that case, including maintaining counsel contact as trial activity proceeds.

The Uganda Law Society’s public statement on the matter also points to a wider question of how legal representation for detained defendants is handled at points of entry, particularly when cross-border counsel seeks to participate in proceedings. It is also part of a pattern of scrutiny around restrictions on opposition figures and their contacts during high-profile cases.

With Karua’s stated travel purpose tied to representing Besigye, the next step for the process depends on whether Uganda authorities clarify the basis for the denial and whether she is permitted to reattempt entry or participate through alternate legal arrangements while the treason case remains before the court.

The dispute highlights the practical impact of immigration and border controls on court access, including the ability of detainees to consult counsel, the continuity of representation, and the ability of courts to conduct proceedings with defense participation expected under ordinary legal process.