Uganda,6,Jan -Martha Karua, a prominent Kenyan lawyer, has been granted a special practicing certificate by the Uganda Law Council to represent Dr. Kizza Besigye, a veteran Ugandan politician, and his aide, Obeid Lutale. Both are facing charges related to security offenses and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The decision was made unanimously by the council members after Karua appealed to the Uganda Law Society. The approval was confirmed during a meeting of the Law Council, chaired by Court of Appeal Justice Irene Mulyagonja. Uganda Law Society President Isaac Ssemakadde, who received Karua’s appeal on December 23, 2024, also attended the session.
Karua, not being a Ugandan national, had initially applied for a temporary practicing certificate to allow her to represent her clients in Uganda. However, her request was denied on December 6, 2024, just days before Besigye and Lutale were due in court. She strongly criticized the rejection, calling it an attack on her character and a setback for East African cooperation.
Following the initial refusal, the Law Society of Kenya expressed its concerns, even threatening to suspend the admission of Ugandan advocates in Kenya. In response to the Uganda Law Council’s recent decision, Ssemakadde described the approval of Karua’s certificate as a step towards restoring professionalism and regional unity.
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