Martha Karua Enters Uganda to Support Besigye After Tanzanian Deportation.

By [Eric Juma], Staff Writer KAMPALA, Uganda

Kenyan opposition leader Martha Karua arrived in Uganda on Tuesday, just two days after being deported from Tanzania, to support Ugandan opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye ahead of a pivotal court session. Karua, leader of Kenya’s People’s Liberation Party (PLP) and former Justice Minister, traveled to Kampala to attend a court hearing scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, concerning treason charges against Besigye. The case, which has kept Besigye in detention for nearly six months, has drawn widespread attention across East Africa.

Her arrival in Uganda follows a contentious incident in Tanzania, where Karua and other Kenyan activists, including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, were detained and deported over the weekend. The group had intended to observe the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu accused them of attempting to destabilize the country, stating, “We will not give space to anyone trying to destabilize us here.” Karua refuted these allegations, asserting that she entered Tanzania legally under East African Community (EAC) protocols.

“We did not invade your country.We came legally as people from the EAC bloc, but we were barred from entry and ejected,” she said.

In Uganda, Karua has been actively involved in Besigye’s legal defense. Initially, the Uganda Law Council denied her application for a temporary practicing certificate, citing procedural issues and questioning her motivations. However, after reapplying with support from the Uganda Law Society, Karua was granted the certificate on January 6, 2025, allowing her to represent Besigye and his aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale, in the General Court Martial. Besigye and Lutale were arrested in November 2024 in Nairobi and brought to Uganda, where they faced charges of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. Their arrest and subsequent military trial have drawn international attention and criticism from human rights groups. In January 2025, the Supreme Court of Uganda ruled that the trial of civilians in military courts was unconstitutional, leading to the transfer of Besigye’s case to a civilian court.

The upcoming court session on May 21 will address the treason charges against Besigye. The adjournment was granted to allow the High Court to consider an application filed by the defense team, seeking to halt an earlier decision by the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court. Karua’s involvement underscores the growing regional tensions and concerns over political repression in East Africa, particularly regarding the treatment of opposition figures and the use of military courts to try civilians. —