A diplomatic row has erupted after Martha Karua, a former Kenyan justice minister and prominent opposition figure, was denied entry into Uganda on Wednesday. The incident, which took place at Entebbe International Airport, has prompted the British government to issue a pointed reminder to Commonwealth nations about their obligations under the rule of law.
Karua, who served as justice minister under President Mwai Kibaki from 2006 to 2009, was reportedly travelling to Kampala to attend a legal conference. Ugandan authorities declined to give a formal reason for her exclusion, but sources suggest it may be linked to her outspoken criticism of President Yoweri Museveni’s administration, particularly its handling of corruption and political repression.
Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office issued a statement expressing deep concern. “The United Kingdom is committed to the Commonwealth’s core values, including the rule of law and the protection of fundamental freedoms. We urge all member states to respect these principles and to ensure that individuals are not arbitrarily denied the right to travel for legitimate purposes.”
Karua, a trained lawyer and one of Kenya’s most respected jurists, condemned the move as a “flagrant violation” of the East African Community treaty, which guarantees free movement of persons. “I was not given any explanation. I was simply told I could not enter. This is not how civilised nations treat their neighbours,” she said in a statement from Nairobi.
The incident comes at a delicate time for the East African bloc, which has seen rising tensions between Kenya and Uganda over trade disputes and allegations of espionage. Last month, Uganda expelled two Kenyan diplomats accused of spying, a charge Nairobi denied.
For the working families in both nations, this friction has tangible consequences. Cross-border trade supports thousands of small-scale traders in markets like Busia and Malaba. A prolonged diplomatic chill could disrupt supply chains, pushing up the price of staple goods such as maize and cooking oil. “We feel it at the till,” says Grace Ochieng, a market vendor in Kisumu who imports Ugandan beans. “When leaders fight, we pay more for basics.”
The UK’s intervention also carries weight given its historical ties to both nations as former colonies. Britain remains the largest foreign investor in East Africa, and its calls for Commonwealth standards to be upheld are likely to resonate in foreign capitals.
Karua has not indicated what legal steps she will take next, but her supporters are calling on the African Union and the East African Court of Justice to intervene. The case underscores a troubling pattern in the region, where political opinions can become grounds for travel bans. In 2021, Ugandan authorities denied entry to Kenyan journalist Macharia Gaitho, who had written critically about Museveni’s government.
As regional bodies struggle to enforce their own treaties, it is ordinary people who bear the cost. The price of bread in Kampala and Nairobi seldom reflects the fine print of international law, but it is deeply affected by the political storms that rage above. The UK’s statement may be a diplomatic note, but for many, it is a reminder that justice is not just for lawyers. It is for the woman at the market and the man at the border gate.
