Da Dona
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- Dec 16, 2025
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Remanded opposition politician Kizza Besigye has filed a fresh application before the High Court seeking to hold the Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, personally accountable for the deportation of Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua, arguing that it violated his constitutional right to legal representation.
According to the application filed through his legal team, Besigye says Karua is one of his lead lawyers in the treason case against him. He argues that her arrest at Entebbe International Airport, subsequent detention, and deportation from Uganda on June 22 prevented her from representing him in court and interfered with his right to a fair hearing.
The application follows public statements by Muhoozi on X in which he claimed responsibility for ordering Karua's deportation and declared that she was no longer welcome in Uganda. Besigye contends that these statements amount to an admission of direct involvement in actions that obstructed his legal defence.
Besigye is asking the High Court to declare that the deportation of his lawyer was unconstitutional and that the actions of the CDF infringed on his right to legal counsel. He also wants the court to issue orders preventing further interference with his lawyers and ensuring that counsel of his choice can freely represent him in court.
The case adds to Besigye's growing legal battle against Muhoozi. Earlier this month, he sued the army chief over repeated public statements in which Muhoozi allegedly threatened to execute him before the conclusion of his treason trial. Besigye argued that those remarks undermined his right to a fair trial and endangered his life.
Karua's deportation has drawn condemnation from regional legal bodies and human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, which called on Ugandan authorities to investigate her detention and deportation and uphold the rule of law.
Source: Observer Publications
