Martha Karua of Kenya denied legal practicing Licence in Uganda .
KAMPALA – UGANDA: The Uganda Law Council has denied a seasoned Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua a temporary practicing licence to serve as lead counsel in the case involving Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajj Obed Kamulegeya.
The Uganda Law Council issued a statement concerning Karua’s practicing licence denial, citing on the application as politically motivated, rather than purely professional.k
The Kenyan lawyer entered the country with a lot of hopes of leading the defense for Dr. Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale in a court martial case.
Responding to the ULC in a detailed letter addressed to the Secretary of the Uganda Law Council, Navakooza K. Margaret today, Karua addressed the council’s concerns and questioned the procedural integrity of its decision-making process.
According to Karua, the rejection letter, dated December 6, 2024, cited several deficiencies in her application, including a lack of notarization for her practicing certificate, nationality documents, and academic qualifications.
Dr. Besigye’s legal team member Lawyer Eron Kiiza via his tweet (X) hundle said that the Law Council decision declining the application of Senior Counsel Martha Karua contradicts Articles 20, 28, 42, 43, 44(c) & 45 of the Ugandan Constitution as well as the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.
Kizza added that the decision offends international law including the African Charter urging that politics of Karua Martha are not valid or relevant reason for shutting door to her legal practice in Uganda.
