Kalonzo Alerts the Government of Museveni to Martha Karua’s Ugandan Deportation

Following the deportation of Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua from Uganda, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka issued a strong warning to President Yoweri Museveni’s administration, citing the action as a clear violation of East African Community treaties. Blocking regional legal advocates creates a very risky precedent that actively threatens justice, regional integration, and the rule of law, Musyoka warned.

Karua was arrested by Ugandan immigration authorities at Entebbe International Airport on June 22, 2026, not long after her arrival. She was placed on a commercial flight back to Nairobi using a highly restrictive red alert status after security officials formally declared her persona non grata and temporarily confiscated her cell phones.

Karua had come to Kampala to join the domestic legal defense team for Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago and veteran Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, both of whom are accused of serious treason. Prominent legal organizations, civil society organizations, and regional leaders were immediately outraged by her abrupt deportation. They see the state mechanism as an intentional attempt by the Ugandan government to thwart the legal representation of the political opposition.

Musyoka denounced the deportation as a sharp escalation of regional tyranny that directly threatens the fundamental constitutional rights of all citizens within the East African bloc during a joint press briefing with prominent opposition figures in Nairobi. “The actions of the Museveni administration clearly violate fundamental East African protocols guaranteeing the free movement of professionals,” Musyoka said. “Today it is Martha Karua; tomorrow it could easily be any regional voice that dares to stand for justice, accountability, and the rule of law throughout East Africa.”

Eugene Wamalwa, the leader of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya, and former Chief Justice David Maraga both expressed strong support for Karua and described the incident as alarming proof of swift democratic regression. On the other hand, Kenyan government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura played down the growing diplomatic strain, characterizing the denial of entry as a sovereign immigration decision rather than a formal, long-term breakdown in bilateral relations.

The Law Society of Kenya heavily criticized the deportation, arguing that blocking independent legal practitioners severely undermines judicial independence and cross-border professional integration. Moving forward, regional civil society groups plan to formally challenge these travel restrictions through the East African Court of Justice to completely protect regional integration frameworks and effectively prevent future political crackdowns on political dissidents.