Kenya’s former Minister of Justice Martha Karua is to lead the team of legal team of four time presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye in the court martial over cases taking over from the Kampala Lord Mayor Mr. Elias Lukwago.
According to Elias Lukwago the interim president of FDC Katonga faction, a team of lawyers from the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU) and the East African Law Society will be attending court.
Over 50 lawyers from Uganda and Kenya have been lined to represent Dr. Besigye and his political associate, Hajj Obeid Lutale in the case before the General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala.
“The decision we have taken is to assemble a very big team of lawyers from Kenya and Uganda. So far, 50 lawyers have committed to be with us on that day (December 2) and are ready to take on the State and provide any other legal services required in the case. The head of this team of lawyers is Hon Martha Karua. From today onwards, she’s the head of the legal team. I am no longer the lead counsel in this matter,” Mr Lukwago.
“We’re still in close contact with the leadership of Law Society of Kenya to interest them in the matter but they also seem to be confirming,” he said.
On December 2nd, a group of 50 lawyers, led by Martha Karua, will represent Besigye in court to challenge the actions of the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in the General Court Martial.
Ms Karua, a seasoned Kenyan lawyer, is leading the legal team and has taken steps to secure a temporary practicing certificate for the case, citing Section 18 of the Advocates Act, which allows for such certificates in specific cases.
Lukwago said, “Good enough Kenya is under the East African Community (EAC) and is a commonwealth country. The requirement is that you file the application with the law council and the chief registrar will issue the temporary practicing certificate. We have started on the process today. Hon Martha Karua has already applied for the certificate and by closure of business today, we want to finalize on the application so that it can be processed expeditiously. We shall process the applications for the other lawyers in the course of the week.”
The team for the time being, will be attached to Lukwago and Company Advocates,” the Lord Mayor added.
Dr. Besigye and Hajji Lutale were arrested on November 16 in Nairobi, Kenya, where he (Besigye) had been invited as a speaker at the launch of Ms Karua’s book, Against the Tide.
They were arraigned before the General Court Martial on November 20 and charged with offence relating to security, illegal possession of two pistols and eight rounds of ammunition. They were remanded until December 2.
Mr Lukwago confirmed that the Kenyan government would be dragged to court for its alleged acquiescence in the enforced disappearance of Besigye, an act that he called a violation of Kenya’s territorial integrity and a breach of its immigration laws.
Meanwhile, police in Kampala have arrested Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda opposition mobiliser, Igrid Turinawe and six other members of the FDC-Katonga faction as they attempted to march to Kenya High Commission in Uganda for an explanation as to why their two members- Besigye and Hajj Lutale- were arrested in Nairobi.
