
Narc-Kenya Party leader, Martha Karua, has secured a temporary practicing certificate from the Ugandan Law Council, granting her permission to operate within Uganda’s legal jurisdiction.
This decision follows a special meeting held by the Law Council on Monday, January 6, to review and approve her application, which had initially been rejected on December 6, 2024.
With this approval, Karua is now eligible to represent Uganda’s opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, in an ongoing case before Uganda’s Court Martial.
“The Law Council has issued a temporary Practicing Certificate to Hon. Martha Karua after her reapplication through the Uganda Law Society,” the society stated.

Starting January 7, 2025, Karua can officially represent her clients in Ugandan courts.
Since Karua hails from a different legal jurisdiction, she was required to formally apply for permission to practice in Uganda.
Under Section 18 of Uganda’s Advocates Act, foreign lawyers from Commonwealth countries must obtain a temporary practicing certificate and be affiliated with a local Ugandan law firm to practice legally in the country.
Initially, the Uganda Law Council had barred Karua from representing Besigye. She was set to lead a 50-member legal team that included members of the Pan-African Lawyers Union and the International Commission of Jurists.
The rejection was based on procedural grounds, including the lack of notarized copies of her practicing certificate and a letter of good standing from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), among other required documents.
In response, Karua resubmitted her application, supported by the Uganda Law Society, on December 23, 2024.
Her case attracted widespread interest, as she sought to represent Besigye and Hajj Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, who face charges related to illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The two were arrested in Nairobi by Ugandan security forces.
The case has garnered significant regional and international attention, highlighting concerns about political freedoms and judicial processes in East Africa.