NAIROBI — Amnesty International has sharply criticised Ugandan authorities following the detention and deportation of Kenyan lawyer and senior counsel Martha Karua, describing the incident as unlawful and part of a broader pattern of intimidation surrounding the legal team representing opposition figure Kizza Besigye.
Karua, a prominent Kenyan human rights lawyer and former justice minister, was detained upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport on June 22 before being deported back to Kenya. According to Amnesty International, she was not informed of the reasons for her arrest and was held without communication before her removal from the country.
Karua had travelled to Uganda to observe court proceedings involving Erias Lukwago, a leading Ugandan lawyer and member of Besigye's defence team. Lukwago is himself facing treason-related charges after being arrested earlier this month.
In a statement, Amnesty International's Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, condemned the move.
"Martha Karua's detention and subsequent deportation are unlawful and outrageous," Chagutah said.
He argued that the action undermined transparency in judicial proceedings and violated regional agreements governing the movement of citizens within the East African Community.
"They are not only a blatant violation of the East African Community Treaty, but also a shameless attempt to suppress trial observation, which is central to the transparency of court processes," he added.
The rights organisation linked Karua's detention to what it described as growing pressure on lawyers representing Besigye, one of Uganda's most prominent opposition figures.
According to Amnesty, the incident follows the arrest of Lukwago on June 15 and earlier confrontations involving other members of Besigye's legal team.
The organisation pointed to the case of lawyer Eron Kiiza, who was arrested during a court hearing in January 2025 after a confrontation with security officers at a military court. He was later convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to nine months in prison.
Amnesty said the latest developments raise fresh concerns about the ability of defence lawyers to represent clients without interference.
"Amnesty International reminds the Ugandan authorities that Kizza Besigye has a right to legal representation," Chagutah said.
The organisation also renewed its call for the release of both Besigye and Lukwago.
Besigye, a veteran opposition leader and long-time critic of President Yoweri Museveni's government, has been in detention since November 2024. According to Amnesty, he was abducted in Kenya before reappearing days later before a military court in Kampala.
Ugandan authorities charged Besigye and fellow opposition politician Haji Obeid Lutale with security-related offences and unlawful possession of weapons. He has remained in custody since then.
The Ugandan government has previously maintained that legal proceedings involving Besigye and other opposition figures are being conducted in accordance with the law. Authorities have not publicly commented on Amnesty's latest allegations regarding Karua's detention and deportation.
The incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of Uganda's handling of politically sensitive cases, particularly as regional and international observers continue to monitor the treatment of opposition leaders, lawyers and human rights defenders.
For many across East Africa, Karua's brief detention has become more than a diplomatic dispute. It has reignited questions about judicial independence, political freedoms and the ability of lawyers to carry out their work without fear of arrest or intimidation.