Martha Karua, the lead counsel representing Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye, recently faced a setback in her efforts to practice law in Uganda.
Her application for a temporary law practice certificate was turned down by the Ugandan Law Council.
In a letter dated December 6, 2024, the council cited several reasons for rejecting her request, including issues with the notarization of required documents.
Karua expressed her dismay in a response shared on social media.
Revealing that the Ugandan Law Council also questioned her and fellow lawyer Erias Lukwago’s nationality documents and academic qualifications.
“Rather than use these as reasons to decline my application, one would expect that the law council would have asked for whatever additional documents it desired,” Karua wrote.
Karua’s major headache
She went on to defend her and Lukwago’s professional standing, pointing out Lukwago’s well-established role as the Lord Mayor of Kampala and a practicing advocate running his own law firm.
Karua also made it clear that Besigye had every right to choose his legal team, including his lead counsel.
The Law Council further accused Karua of presenting herself as a person holding a valid practicing certificate when she attended the December 2 court martial hearing for Besigye’s case.
Karua vehemently rejected this claim,
Explaining that it was Lukwago who had introduced her to the court and that she was awaiting approval for her special license to practice in Uganda.
Karua expressed her frustration, saying the attack on her character and integrity undermined the impartiality of the Ugandan Law Council.
She also criticized the council for involving extraneous matters.
Which she said contradicted the spirit of cooperation in the East African Community (Jumuiya).
Karua is leading a team of legal experts from various renowned associations to defend Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale.
The two men are facing charges related to illegal firearm possession after being abducted in Nairobi in mid-November.
Besigye’s supporters have argued that the charges are politically motivated.
Despite the setbacks, Karua remains determined.
The trial is set to continue with hopes of resolving the legal issues surrounding her practice in Uganda.
