Nairobi, Kenya – A bitter dispute between Kenyan and Ugandan lawyers has intensified, with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) threatening to suspend all Ugandan lawyers operating in Kenya.
At the center of the controversy is Martha Karua, a prominent Kenyan lawyer who was denied a temporary practicing license by the Uganda Law Council. Karua was appointed to represent Dr. Kizza Besigye and Mr. Obeid Lutale, who were abducted in Nairobi and charged with unlawful possession of firearms in a Ugandan court.
The LSK has condemned the Uganda Law Council’s decision, calling it “derogatory, contemptuous, and high-handed.” LSK President Faith Odhiambo warned that the organization would take drastic measures, including suspending the admission of Ugandan lawyers to practice in Kenya.
“This decision is a clear indication of the lack of regard for Kenyan practitioners by the Uganda Law Council,” Odhiambo said in a statement.
The Uganda Law Council denied Karua’s application, citing various reasons, including her lack of notarized copies of her current practicing certificate and letter of good standing from the LSK.
The dispute has sparked concerns about the independence of the legal profession and the right to fair trial in the region. The East Africa Law Society (EALS) has also condemned the decision, stating that it undermines regional integration and the right to fair trial.
“This decision sets a dangerous precedent that could undermine the independence of judicial bodies and tribunals in East Africa,” EALS President Ramadhan M. Abubakar said in a statement.
The dispute is likely to escalate tensions between Kenyan and Ugandan lawyers, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the legal profession in the region.
