East African lawyers sue Uganda for denying Kenyan advocate permit
Lawyers for opposition leader Kizza Besigye led by Kenyan counsel Martha Karua and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago gather outside the General Court Martial in Makindye, Uganda on December 2, 2024. Ms Karua was denied a licence to practise law in Uganda.
The lobby for East African lawyers is suing Uganda for refusing to allow Kenya’s Martha Karua to represent beleaguered Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye in the court martial.
The East African Law Society (EALS), the regional bar association, says in a petition before the East African Court of Justice that the move to deny Ms Karua a special practising certificate is inconsistent with the obligation to promote the harmonisation of the profession and cross-border legal practice under Article 126 of the East African Community (EAC) Treaty.
