Martha Karua, a Kenyan Senior Counsel and the lead lawyer for opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, has encountered a setback in her application for a temporary special practicing license from the Uganda Law Council due to failure to provide the necessary documents.
The council’s recent correspondence, dated December 6, 2024, outlined several deficiencies in her application that led to its rejection.
The Uganda Law Council in a letter addressed to Karua, highlighted multiple concerns regarding her application namely Incomplete Documentation.
“Karua’s application lacked notarized copies of her practicing certificate and a letter of good standing from the Law Society of Kenya,” the letter read in part.
The council noted that essential documents, including her nationality verification and academic qualifications, were not even included.
“A practicing certificate for Mr. Erias Lukwago, who is well-known as the Lord Mayor of Kampala and a practicing advocate, was also missing,” the council said.
According to Ivan Bwire a practicing lawyer in Uganda from Wakiso, Karua as a senior and experienced lawyer should have known beforehand that such documents are required and also Lukwago should have given her a heads up.
“It beats my understanding that such a well-known lawyer would fail to get the basics of attaining a special temporary practicing certificate. Are they even ready and well prepared to defend their client from such mistakes?” Bwire wondered.
He further noted that all this woman enjoys is being in the media and making a lot of noise. A serious person should have carried out her due diligence and researched what would be required or even called ULS before hand and asked for the requirements.
“Now she is faulting the ULS for her own lack of seriousness. Besigye needs to rethink who represents him. All she has done is make noise in the media,” Bwire added.
The situation surrounding Martha Karua’s application has sparked discussions about the procedural requirements for foreign lawyers seeking to practice in Uganda.
As the legal battle for Dr. Besigye continues, the outcome of Karua’s application remains pivotal for the opposition leader’s defense strategy so the earlier she presents the required documents the better for her client.
