Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua has written a protest letter to the Uganda Law Council in her capacity as a lawyer protesting the council's decision to decline her application for a special practicing certificate.
Karua intended to represent former opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who's facing a court marshal over a series of alleged offenses, including illegal gun possession and money laundering.
Bisigye was picked up in Nairobi and forcefully taken back to Uganda and arraigned in a military court alongside Hajji Lutale Kamulegeya, another opposition figure.
Karua appeared in the court on December 2 but was denied the honours on grounds that she did not have a certificate to practice in Uganda.
She applied for the certificate but according to her, the Uganda Law Council declined to issue her one on a number of grounds the former Constitutional Affairs Minister said
"You state that copies of my practicing certificate and letter of good standing from the Law society of Kenya were not notarized, and further, that my nationality documents and academic qualifications were not attached to my application as well as Mr Lukwago's practicing certificate. Rather than use these as reasons to decline my application, one would expect that the law council would have asked for whatever additional documents that it desired," Karua said.
In the letter dated December 9 and addressed to the Uganda Law Council Secretary/Comissioner, Navakooza K. Margaret, Karua further took issue with the council's move to question whether she brings any special skill to necessitate issuance of the practicing certificate.
She states that "it is Dr Besigye's constitutional right to appoint a lawyer/s of choice, including a lead council of choice.".
Karua further denied the council's claims that she presented herself as a person holding a valid practicing certificate in Uganda when she attended the court martial hearing on December 2.
The seasond constitutional lawyer said that as a visiting Jurist, she sat with a Mr Lukwago, a well-known personality as the Lord Mayor of the City of Kampala and a practicing advocate, as she waited for the approval of her special license to practice law in Uganda.
Karua said it was on this basis that the court issued an adjournment in the case against Bisigye to December 10.
She said the manner in which she has been treated undermines the spirit of the East African Community, which includes her not requiring a practicing certificate to make an administrative inquiry or her visit being considered as confrontational or a breach of professional etiquette.
"In the light of these facts, 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," Karua said.
"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."
