Kenyan lawyer and politician Martha Karua has announced plans to sue the Ugandan government after she was denied entry into the country and deported from Entebbe International Airport on Monday.
Speaking to NTV Kenya following the incident, Karua detailed what she described as a distressing experience at the airport, claiming immigration officials detained her for several hours and confiscated her mobile phones before putting her on a flight back to Kenya.
Karua had travelled to Kampala to join the legal team representing opposition figure Kizza Besigye, his aide Obeid Lutale, and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Her deportation came while proceedings related to Lukwago’s bail application were ongoing at the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court.
According to Karua, she had already cleared immigration checks and was waiting at the baggage collection area when an immigration officer approached her and informed her that there was an alert attached to her name.
“I had already been cleared and was waiting for my colleagues when an officer came back and said there was an alert against my name,” she said.
Karua explained that she was subsequently moved between several officials before meeting a senior immigration officer who informed her that the alert indicated she was prohibited from entering Uganda.
She said she was later taken to an office and asked to complete forms, a request she declined, arguing that all the required information was already contained in her passport.
The Kenyan politician further claimed that officials intended to question her, but she insisted that she would not participate in any interrogation without legal representation and without being informed of the reasons for her detention.
Karua also accused airport officials of forcefully taking away her two mobile phones.
According to her account, one officer grabbed her first phone while she was using it, while another official allegedly seized her second device moments later.
She said she repeatedly questioned why her personal property had been taken, especially since authorities had already indicated that she would be deported.
Karua added that she requested to be placed on the same Kenya Airways flight she had arrived on, but the plane departed before arrangements could be made.
The senior lawyer further revealed that officials later attempted to move her to what they described as a holding room, which she believed was a detention facility. Instead, she requested to remain in the Kenya Airways lounge, where airline staff reportedly assisted her.
She alleged that Ugandan security personnel continued monitoring her while she waited for her return flight.
According to Karua, her phones were only returned as she was boarding the aircraft back to Kenya. However, she refused to accept them, claiming they had been in the possession of authorities for more than three hours.
She expressed concerns that information could have been accessed from the devices during that period and said this formed part of the reason she intends to pursue legal action against the Ugandan government.
Meanwhile, Ugandan immigration authorities had not publicly explained the reasons behind Karua’s denied entry by press time.
However, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, appeared to claim responsibility for the decision in a post on X.
“Do not blame my great father for this decision. I deported her myself. She’s no longer allowed in our country,” Muhoozi wrote.
