Prominent Kenyan lawyer and politician Martha Wangari Karua has officially signed a special practicing certificate on Tuesday, granted by the Uganda Law Council to represent Dr. Kizza Besigye and Haji Obeid Lutale in a high-profile criminal case before the General Court Martial.
The certificate, issued by the Chief Registrar of the Courts of Judicature, permits Karua to act as an advocate in General Court Martial Criminal Case No. UPDF/GCM/040/2024, where the two defendants face unspecified charges.
However, the document restricts Karua’s role to this specific case and requires her to work alongside a Ugandan advocate with a valid practicing certificate.
This development follows a controversial process that saw Karua’s initial application rejected by the Law Council on December 6, 2024, citing non-compliance with the amended Advocates Act and questioning her motives as politically driven.
The rejection drew criticism from the Law Society of Kenya, which threatened to suspend the reciprocal admission of Ugandan advocates.
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) later backed Karua’s re-application, emphasizing the importance of regional legal cooperation within the East African Community.
The Law Council convened a special meeting on December 23, 2024, where Karua’s application was approved.
Her lawyers, including Erias Lukwago and Sam Muyizi, facilitated the process at Buganda Road Court, expediting the signing of key documents by the Acting Chief Registrar. The lawyers reportedly paid $200 and sh 200,000 in processing fees.
Besigye and Lutale have been in detention at Luzira Prison since their arrest in November 2024, which they allege involved illegal collaboration between Kenyan and Ugandan security forces.
Their defense team had earlier refused to proceed in the Court Martial without Karua, citing the illegitimacy of trying civilians in military courts.
A related case on the legality of civilian trials in military courts, filed by former MP Michael Kabaziguruka, remains pending judgment in Uganda’s Supreme Court after a nine-month delay.
Additionally, Besigye and other human rights defenders have filed a case with the East African Court of Justice, seeking $100,000 (Sh 360 million) in compensation for alleged illegal arrests and detentions.
This is not the first time Besigye has faced the General Court Martial. In 2006, he was charged with treason, rape, and concealment of treason, though all charges were dismissed. His legal battles, often viewed as politically motivated, have continued to define his opposition to President Museveni’s government.
