Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba/FILE
Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has claimed responsibility for the deportation of People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, saying the decision was his and not that of President Yoweri Museveni.
In a post published on X on Tuesday, Muhoozi said Karua was no longer welcome in Uganda following her deportation from Entebbe International Airport on Monday.
“Do not blame my great father for this decision. I deported her myself. She's no longer allowed in our country,” Muhoozi said.
He addressed the issue a day after Karua was denied entry into Uganda and ordered to return to Kenya despite travelling to Kampala for legal work linked to opposition-related court proceedings.
Karua had travelled aboard a Kenya Airways flight alongside Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama to attend court proceedings connected to the bail application of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
She was also expected to join a legal team led by Ugandan lawyer Erias Lukwago, who has been representing Besigye in a series of cases.
Lukwago himself is facing treason-related charges and was due in court for a bail hearing.
Karua had just arrived at Entebbe International Airport when she was stopped by immigration officials and prevented from entering the country. No official explanation was immediately provided by Ugandan authorities regarding the decision.
Kanjama, who travelled with Karua and was attending the same proceedings, was allowed into Uganda.
The Law Society of Kenya president later questioned why one member of a legal defence team was admitted while another was turned away despite travelling for the same purpose.
Upon her return to Nairobi on Monday, Karua accused Ugandan authorities of interfering with the legal defence of Besigye.
Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, she said she was detained for several hours, had her phones confiscated and was informed she would not be allowed into the country.
“After being taken around offices, I was taken to a man who told me he's the principal immigration officer at the airport, and he told me that I would not be allowed to enter,” Karua said.
She described the decision as politically motivated and argued that it undermined efforts to provide legal representation for Besigye.
“This is political persecution of Besigye, and it is interference with his defence,” she said.
Karua later recounted details of the incident during a television interview, saying she had initially been cleared through immigration before being recalled after what officials described as an internal alert on her travel documents.
According to her account, the matter was escalated through several immigration supervisors before a senior officer informed her that her entry had been prohibited.
She also alleged that her mobile phones were confiscated during the process and that she was kept under security watch in an airport lounge for several hours before being placed on a flight back to Nairobi.
The incident attracted criticism from political and legal leaders in Kenya and across the region.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, former Chief Justice David Maraga and DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa were among leaders who expressed solidarity with Karua following her deportation.
Kalonzo described the incident as troubling and said it raised concerns about adherence to principles underpinning the East African Community.
Karua has since indicated that she intends to return to Uganda in the future, but suggested that would only happen after President Museveni leaves office.
“I will visit Uganda after Museveni leaves power,” she said, arguing that no leader is above the constitution and that countries should not close their doors to legal professionals because of political considerations.
