On Monday, Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua sent a critical letter to the Uganda Law Council after being denied a temporary practicing certificate to serve as Kizza Besigye’s main counsel.
“I have received with dismay your letter dated 6th December 2024 declining my application for a special practicing certificate,” Karua began in her letter addressed to Navakooza Margaret, the secretary of the council.
She went on to detail all six reasons for being denied the certificate and refuted them all.
Karua alleged that her practicing certificate letter of good standing from the Law Society of Kenya had not been notarized.
The applicant also stated that her nationality documents, academic qualifications, and Erias Lukwago’s practicing certificate were not attached to the application.
Regarding this, she remarked that she should have been asked for any more documentation the council required.
She also mentioned that Lukwago, whose law company she was using to seek the interim license, was a well-known figure in Kampala as the Lord Mayor and practicing lawyer.
The council allegedly also enquired about the unique skill she provided to the squad.
“It is Dr Besigye’s constitutional right to appoint a lawyer/s of choice including a lead counsel of choice. Our request to you was to process the application before you,” Karua answered.
Karua further denied accusations that she represented herself as having a legitimate practicing certificate in Uganda during the hearing on December 2 in Kampala.
“As a visiting Jurist I sat with Mr Lukwago, who introduced me to the court and informed the court that I was waiting for the approval of my special license to practice law in Uganda for purposes of the case before them,” she stated in her letter.
“I take great exception to this unmerited accusation by yourselves which constitutes an attack on my character and integrity and undermines the appearance of impartiality of the law council.”
Regarding following Lukwago and other counsel to the Chief Justice’s chambers, Karua clarified that she did not need a practicing certificate to conduct an administrative inquiry.
“Your disparaging and personalised aspersions on my person and character, as well as the importation of extraneous matters, is regrettable and undermines the spirit of Jumuiya,” Karua concluded.
On November 27, the Narc Kenya party head wrote to the council to get a temporary practicing certificate in order to take over as the principal counsel for Uganda’s opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
Besigye was reportedly kidnapped in Kenya by the Ugandan government and charged at a Kampala military court after being discovered in possession of two weapons and rounds of ammunition.
He was in Nairobi to attend Karua’s book launch, thus she has been extremely loud in defending Besigye, even attending his case hearing last week before obtaining the interim practicing certificate.
