Kampala, Uganda – The President of the Uganda Law Society (ULS), Isaac Ssemakadde, has publicly criticized the Uganda Law Council’s initial rejection of Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua’s application for a temporary practicing certificate. Following widespread advocacy and pressure from legal professionals both locally and internationally, the Council reversed its decision, allowing Karua to represent Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajj Obeid Lutaale at the General Court Martial on January 7, 2025.
Ssemakadde described the reversal as a triumph for international legal standards, emphasizing that the Ugandan government has recognized the real-life consequences of such decisions. “The legal profession is guided by UN principles and International Bar Standards (IBS) on the independence of the legal profession,” he stated.
Karua’s application was initially rejected on December 6, 2024, with claims that it did not comply with the amended Advocates Act and that her motives were politically driven. This led to significant backlash, including threats from the Law Society of Kenya to suspend reciprocal admission of Ugandan advocates. The ULS supported Karua’s application, highlighting the importance of cooperation within the East African Community’s legal framework.
Besigye and Lutaale have been in detention since their abduction in Nairobi in November 2024, facing charges related to national security and alleged illegal possession of firearms. Their lawyers had previously refused to proceed in court without Karua, citing concerns over the trial of civilians in military courts.