Besigye case: Karua and other lawyers locked out of courtroom, says Byanyima
Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye. Inset is Senior Counsel Martha Karua.
Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, who travelled to Uganda on Sunday ahead of opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye's arraignment on Monday at the General Court Martial in Kampala, has been locked out of the courtroom.
This is according to Dr Besigye's wife Winnie Byanyima, who on Monday said that Ms Karua and at least 20 other lawyers —including his legal counsel Erias Lukwago — were all locked out of the General Court Martial.
Ms Karua, who is seeking to lead the legal team representing Dr Besigye in the case, had applied to the Uganda Law Council for a temporary practicing certificate. She's expected to lead more than 50 lawyers from Uganda and Kenya to represent the four-time presidential candidate and his political associate, Hajj Obeid Lutale.
“I have been instructed by Lukwago and Company Advocates to join them as lead counsel in the proceedings...which I have accepted,” she said in a letter last week.
Mr Lukwago, a prominent Ugandan lawyer, last week confirmed that he would no longer serve as lead counsel.
“The decision we have taken is to assemble a very big team of lawyers from Kenya and Uganda. So far, 50 lawyers have committed to be with us and are ready to take on the State. The head of this team of lawyers is Hon Martha Karua...I am no longer the lead counsel in this matter,” Mr Lukwago said.
However, the Council is yet to grant Ms Karua the certificate, a move that could further complicate her participation in the case.
Dr Besigye was abducted in Nairobi recently, just a day before he was due to attend Ms Karua's book launch. He was then covertly ferried by road to Uganda, where he resurfaced in court.
The State has charged Dr Besigye and Mr Lutale with unlawful possession of eight rounds of pistol ammunition, which it alleges are ordinarily the monopoly of the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF).
In the first count, the two were charged with offences relating to security contrary to section 128 (1) (f) of the UPDF Act, Cap 330. They are also charged with unlawful possession of ammunition contrary to section 4 (1) & (2) of the Firearms Act, Cap 320.
The army claims that besides Nairobi, the duo, and others still at large, committed the offences in Athens (Greece) and Geneva (Switzerland) between October 2023 and November 2024.
