The Uganda Law Council has issued a practicing certificate to Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua, enabling her to represent Dr. Kizza Besigye and his aide, Obeid Lutale.
The duo is currently facing charges related to security offenses and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The council’s decision to approve Karua’s request was unanimous, following her appeal to the Uganda Law Society. The approval was confirmed during a Law Council meeting chaired by Court of Appeal Justice Irene Mulyagonja. Uganda Law Society President Isaac Ssemakadde, who had received Karua’s appeal on December 23, 2024, also participated in the session.
Karua, not being a Ugandan national, had initially applied for a temporary practicing certificate to act as lead counsel for Dr. Besigye. However, her application was denied on December 6, 2024, just days before Besigye and Lutale were scheduled to appear in court. Karua expressed strong disapproval of the rejection, describing it as an attack on her character and a setback to the spirit of East African cooperation.
Following the denial, the Law Society of Kenya raised concerns about the decision and even threatened to suspend the admission of Ugandan advocates in Kenya. This action added pressure on the Uganda Law Council to reconsider. In response to the council’s recent approval of Karua’s certificate, Ssemakadde hailed the decision as a step towards restoring professionalism and promoting regional unity.
Karua’s determination and the Law Council’s subsequent decision underscore the importance of collaboration within the East African legal community while highlighting the challenges faced by cross-border legal practitioners in the region.
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