NAIROBI, Kenya Jun 23 – People’s Liberation Party Leader Martha Karua has condemned what she described as her unlawful detention and deportation from Uganda while attempting to attend court proceedings linked to opposition leader Kizza Besigye.

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Karua, who has been part of Besigye’s legal team, said she travelled to Uganda alongside Charles Kanjama, the President of the Law Society of Kenya, to follow proceedings concerning fellow lawyer and politician Erias Lukwago.

However, Karua alleged that instead of being allowed to participate in the legal process, she was detained and deported by Ugandan authorities.

In a statement shared on social media, Karua thanked leaders, civil society organisations, professional bodies and supporters across East Africa for condemning the incident and standing in solidarity with her.

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“I am deeply grateful for the overwhelming support, concern, and solidarity expressed by fellow leaders, individuals, professional bodies, civil society organizations, and democratic actors across East Africa and beyond,” she said.

Karua argued that the incident raised wider concerns about the rule of law, access to justice and democratic freedoms within the region.

“The right to legal representation, a fair hearing, and equal protection under the law are not privileges reserved for a few. They are safeguards for all of us,” she stated.

She further insisted that Lukwago, Besigye and other political figures facing legal challenges in Uganda deserve justice and fair treatment under the law.

“Erias Lukwago still deserves justice. Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale still deserve justice,” Karua added.

The incident has sparked fresh debate about political freedoms and the treatment of opposition-linked figures in Uganda, with several regional activists and legal bodies raising concerns over cross-border restrictions targeting lawyers and human rights defenders.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya