Martha Karua detained at Entebbe Airport after entry denial by Ugandan authorities
By Kenneth Mwenda, June 22, 2026PLP presidential aspirant and Senior Counsel Martha Karua has been detained at Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport after authorities reportedly denied her entry into the country.
Karua said in a statement posted on her X account on Monday, June 22, 2026, that she had been held at the airport and remained out of contact after Ugandan authorities stopped her from entering.
She wrote in an “urgent statement” that she had travelled to Uganda aboard a Kenya Airways flight together with the president of the Law Society of Kenya, Charles Kanjama, to attend a bail ruling in the case involving Elias Lukwago.
According to her statement, immigration officials allowed Kanjama to proceed but detained her on arrival.
“Senior Counsel Karua has been detained at Entebbe International Airport after Ugandan authorities denied her entry into the country this morning,” the statement reads in part.
It adds that she remained incommunicado, with her phone switched off and her legal team unable to reach her for updates on her status or expected return to Nairobi.
Karua is currently serving as lead counsel in the treason case involving Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye and co-accused Obeid Lutale. Her team says she holds a valid practising certificate in Uganda through Lukwago’s law firm.
Regional legal tensions rise
The statement further notes that Karua has been actively involved in Besigye’s legal defence since his alleged abduction in Nairobi on November 16, 2024, during a book launch event.
Karua also highlighted the recent detention of her co-counsel, Lukwago, who she said was arrested during an early morning raid at his home on June 15 by Uganda’s Special Forces Command. He was later charged with misprision of treason in connection with the case against Besigye.
The developments have drawn regional attention after Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, posted updates on social media regarding Lukwago’s arrest and legal proceedings.
Karua’s team has called for urgent clarification from Ugandan authorities on her whereabouts and the reasons behind her detention at Entebbe airport. They have also demanded confirmation of her expected release or deportation status.
The incident adds to rising political and legal tension in Uganda involving opposition figures and their legal representatives.