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Uganda detains and deports Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua at Entebbe airport
AllAfrica reported that Amnesty International condemned the detention and deportation of Kenyan human rights lawyer Martha Karua by Ugandan authorities. Karua was arrested June 22 at Entebbe International Airport and deported after being held incommunicado. The group linked the incident to a pattern of actions against lawyers for opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
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Amnesty International condemned the detention and deportation of Kenyan human rights lawyer Martha Karua by Ugandan authorities, AllAfrica reported. Karua was arrested on June 22 at Entebbe International Airport while traveling to observe court proceedings involving lawyer Erias Lukwago.
AllAfrica reported that Karua was held incommunicado, not informed of the reasons for her arrest, and had her mobile phones confiscated before being deported back to Kenya.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International's Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said the actions violated regional legal protections. "Martha Karua's detention and subsequent deportation are unlawful and outrageous," Chagutah said. The organization stated that the arrest continued a pattern of arbitrary arrests, torture and ill-treatment of Kizza Besigye's legal team.
AllAfrica reported that Lukwago was arrested, detained and allegedly tortured on June 15 before being charged with treason-related offences. Besigye has remained in detention for more than 500 days after his alleged abduction in Kenya in November 2024 and subsequent appearance before a military court in Kampala. Amnesty International called for the immediate release of Besigye and Lukwago.
The group also referenced the January 2025 arrest of lawyer Eron Kiiza, who was assaulted and detained inside court premises, convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to nine months imprisonment.
