Martha Karua Detained at Entebbe Airport While Heading to Besigye Case Hearing

Senior Counsel and PLP presidential aspirant Martha Karua was detained and denied entry into Uganda at Entebbe International Airport on June 22, 2026, after arriving from Nairobi on a Kenya Airways flight with Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama. Karua had travelled to attend a bail application ruling involving lawyer Elias Lukwago, but remained incommunicado after her detention, with her legal team unable to reach her and awaiting information on her status and return to Kenya.

Karua is lead counsel for Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye and co-accused Obeid Lutale in an ongoing treason case. The incident came a week after co-lead counsel Elias Lukwago was arrested in an early-morning raid by Uganda’s Special Forces Command, held incommunicado and later charged with misprision of treason in connection with the case against Besigye.

Attached is a press statement by Martha Karua.

STORY UPDATE: As of the Afternoon of June 22, 2026, Martha Karua has been released from detention and has departed Entebbe for Nairobi, Kenya.