A fresh diplomatic stir has emerged after Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and senior political figure Muhoozi Kainerugaba publicly claimed responsibility for the deportation of Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua from Uganda.
Taking to the social media platform X on Tuesday, Muhoozi stated that the decision to remove Karua from Ugandan territory was initiated directly by him, distancing the move from his father, President Yoweri Museveni.
“Do not blame my great father for this decision. I deported her myself. She’s no longer allowed in our country,” he wrote.
The remarks have intensified regional scrutiny surrounding Karua’s Monday evening deportation from Entebbe International Airport, where she was denied entry, declared persona non grata, and flown back to Nairobi under escort.
Karua had travelled to Uganda on legal and political duty linked to ongoing court proceedings involving opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, who remains in detention.
However, she was intercepted by immigration officials shortly after arrival and held for several hours before being deported.
Ugandan authorities have not issued a detailed official explanation for the decision, despite Karua’s repeated claims that she was not informed of specific grounds for being barred.
The public claim by Muhoozi has now added a new political dimension to the incident, raising questions over the chain of command in immigration and national security decisions.
In earlier remarks after her return to Kenya, Karua described the incident as unlawful and politically motivated, while also casting doubt on the fairness of legal proceedings involving Besigye in Uganda.
“It’s clear that Besigye will not get justice in the Ugandan courts,” she said during an interview on Tuesday, adding that she intends to challenge aspects of her treatment.
The development has sparked concern among legal and diplomatic observers, who warn that direct political involvement in immigration decisions could strain relations within the East African Community framework, which guarantees free movement of persons across member states.
As of now, neither Uganda’s immigration department nor State House has issued a formal clarification addressing Muhoozi’s public statement or the circumstances surrounding Karua’s deportation.