Martha Karua Decries Humiliating Body Search in Uganda
Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua has criticized the treatment she received from Ugandan authorities during her visit to a court session for opposition leader Kizza Besigye. She described the experience as both humiliating and unnecessary.
Speaking to the press on Monday, December 2, Karua revealed that she and other legal professionals were subjected to intrusive body searches at Uganda’s General Court Martial in Makindye.
“Expressing my dismay at the humiliating body search that I was subjected to twice and all members of the legal profession were subjected to. First at the gate, then as we entered the courtroom, another body search.
I am asking the officers, between the gate and here and most people have left their briefcases at the gate, what would make them subject us to a second body search? You can see the harassment we have to endure,” lamented Karua.
Karua is part of a team of over 50 lawyers defending Besigye and his co-accused, Obeid Lutale, who face charges of illegal firearm possession and threatening national security. However, Karua could not represent them in court due to not having a temporary practicing certificate issued by Uganda’s Law Council.
She explained that her application for the license had been delayed despite being submitted through a Ugandan law firm. “I’ve not yet had the right of audience in court, because I’m not yet licensed to practice in Uganda. I’m expecting a special license to be issued by the Law Council. As it has been indicated, I applied last week.
I was informed that they do not process digital applications. So my physical application was brought on Wednesday and it was taken by the Law firm of Lukwago and Company. It has not yet been processed but I have been promised by the chair of the Law Council, Justice Irene Mulyagonja, that we may hear from them as early as tomorrow,” she explained.
The court session has been rescheduled to Tuesday, December 10, to give Karua time to obtain her accreditation.
Additionally, Karua expressed intentions to take legal action at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ). She accused both Uganda and Kenya of breaching human rights through unlawful arrests and detentions.
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Martha Karua Decries Humiliating Body Search in Uganda
