Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua. Inset is Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua travelled to Uganda on Sunday ahead of opposition leader Kizza Besigye's arraignment on Monday at the General Court Martial in Kampala, where she is expected to lead his legal team.
Dr Besigye’s legal counsel Erias Lukwago, after consultation with the politician’s wife Winnie Byanyima, last week wrote to Ms Karua, a Senior Counsel in Kenya, requesting her to lead their legal team in the matter.
“After consulting with Hon. Winnie Byanyima, wife of Col. Dr. Besigye, my professional colleagues involved in the said matter and fellow political leaders, I do hereby convey our humble request that you offer legal services as Lead Counsel in the ongoing legal proceedings against Dr Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale before the General Court Martial in Kampala, following their abduction and illegal rendition to Uganda,” Mr Lukwago wrote.
The invite continued: “We further pray that you be pleased to provide stewardship to the legal team in pursuing justice for the duo in any legal fora at a regional and continental level for the egregious abuse of rights and international law.”
Read: Uganda court charges Besigye with 'illegal possession of pistols' in Kenya, Greece and Switzerland
On Sunday, Ms Karua told Nation that she was yet to receive a temporary practising certificate from the Uganda Law Council to grant her permission to take part in the Besigye trial.
“I have not yet received the certificate but in Kampala already from where I will make a follow-up. I’m meeting fellow team members and strategising,” Ms Karua said.
She said that, if granted the temporary practicing certificate, she would lead Besigye's legal team at the trial at the General Court Martial in Kampala on Monday.
The Law Society of Kenya had also written to the Uganda Law Council, assuring of Ms Karua’s qualification for the task.
“This is to confirm that Ms Karua Martha Wangari is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya having signed the roll of advocates on the 19th day of April 1982 and a member of the Law Society of Kenya in good standing as at the 25th day of November 2024.
“We further confirm that she holds a current (2024) practicing certificate and is therefore licensed to practice law. Ms Karua, SC has been conferred the rank of Senior Counsel within the Republic of Kenya, a depiction of her irreproachable professional conduct and good character,” reads the LSK letter by its Chief Executive Florence Muturi.
Ms Karua applied to the Uganda Law Council for a temporary practicing certificate on Monday last week to represent Dr Besigye and Mr Lutale, as their lead counsel.
Dr Besigye and his associate Obeid Lutale were abducted in Nairobi on November 16 and ferried to Uganda over claims of possessing firearms.
They were abducted ahead of Ms Karua’s book launch; ‘Against The Tide’, on Sunday November 17 which they were set to attend.
Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi last Wednesday Dr Besigye’s wife Ms Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), days after the politician's controversial arrest and repatriation to Uganda.
Even though Mr Mudavadi termed the meeting as a "courtesy call” on him, and only issued a statement regarding Ms Byanyima's UNAIDS role, Nation established behind-the-scenes talks on the controversial arrest.
Cross-border diplomacy
Mr Mudavadi had called for restraint on the matter and urged critics to consider the complexities of cross-border diplomacy.
Mr Mudavadi who is also the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and acting Interior CS said Uganda remains Kenya’s strong partner despite the incident.
“Uganda is a strong partner of Kenya and we want to continue to maintain strong bilateral ties with Uganda and all other neighbours.
“The incident should not be used to judge us too harshly on what’s Kenya's outcome on foreign policy,” the PCS said.
He pointed out that the government will resolve “diplomatically,” issues with Uganda.
“We want to continue working with all our neighbours and it’s also important that as much as we are open as a country and allow a lot of latitude, we also believe it’s important that our friends and visitors appreciate it’s important that we maintain good relations with all our partner states,” said Mr Mudavadi.
Appearing before the general court-martial in Kampala, chaired by Brig Freeman Mugabe last Week, the prosecution stated that Dr Besigye and Mr Lutale were on November 16, 2024, while at Riverside Apartments in Nairobi, found in unlawful possession of eight rounds of pistol ammunition, which are ordinarily the monopoly of the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces.
According to Mr Lukwago, Dr Besigye and Mr Lutale were arraigned before the army court illegally.
