Kenyan senior counsel and People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has declared she will not return to Uganda until President Yoweri Museveni leaves office, following her deportation from the country on Monday evening.
Speaking during an interview on Tuesday at NTV Kenya, Karua provided fresh details about her experience at Entebbe International Airport, where she was denied entry and declared persona non grata under unclear circumstances.
“I will visit Uganda after Museveni leaves power. He’s not president for life,” Karua stated, signaling a hardening stance against the Ugandan government following the incident.
Karua had travelled to Uganda to follow up on legal proceedings involving opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye, who remains in detention.
However, upon arrival, immigration officials intercepted her, escorted her to an office, and later informed her she was not permitted to enter the country.
She was subsequently held for several hours before being placed on a return flight to Nairobi.
The PLP leader said Ugandan authorities have yet to provide an official explanation for declaring her an unwelcome person, raising concerns about transparency and adherence to regional agreements.
“They have not given any formal reasons for their actions,” she said, questioning the legality of the move.
Karua also used the interview to comment on the state of the judiciary in Uganda, particularly in relation to Besigye’s ongoing detention.
“It’s clear that Besigye will not get justice in the Ugandan courts,” she remarked, casting doubt on the independence of the country’s legal system.
Her remarks are likely to intensify debate across the East African region, where freedom of movement and legal cooperation are key pillars under the East African Community framework.