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Martha Karua finally cleared to represent Besigye at military court in Kampala
Uganda Law Council (ULC) has rescinded its earlier decision and granted Kenyan senior advocate, Martha Karua, a temporary practicing certificate to enable her represent Ugandan veteran opposition politician, Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale in the military court.Â
Dr Besigye and Hajj Lutale are expected to return to the General Court Martial tomorrow after spending weeks in prison where they were remanded following their alleged abduction from Nairobi, Kenya in November last year.
The council on Monday rescinded its earlier decision in which it had claimed that the former Kenyan Justice Minister’s application lacked proper documentation and was politically motivated.
Sources privy to the matter said the Council’s U-turn followed both internal and external pressures as lawyers, human rights activists and politicians debated Uganda’s justice system.
The council chaired by Court of Appeal justice, Irene Mulyagonja had also earlier argued there was nothing new that Ms Karua, an opposition stalwart in Kenya, would add to Uganda’s four-time presidential contender’s legal team.
“After global banging of the table, the government of Uganda has understood that these decisions have real livelihood consequences. The legal profession is not a Ugandan creation; it’s guided by international principles that must be followed…Today’s decision means Uganda is free and safe for foreign professionals to come and practise law as guided by our local laws. We thank the law council for having a change of mind,” Mr Ssemakadde told journalists after the council’s morning meeting to reconsider Ms Karua’s application.
 With the certificate in hands, Ms Karua will now need to file it with the General Court Martial based in Makindye, Kampala to be able to lead Dr Besigye’s 40-man legal team tomorrow.
Daily Monitor