A diplomatic incident has erupted between Uganda and Kenya after former Kenyan justice minister Martha Karua was denied entry at the Entebbe border crossing on Tuesday morning. The UK High Commission in Kampala confirmed it has intervened on her behalf, calling for an explanation from Ugandan authorities.
Karua, who served as minister from 2009 to 2011, was travelling to attend a regional legal symposium in Kampala when immigration officials detained her for several hours before refusing her admission. No official reason was provided, though sources suggest her recent outspoken criticism of Uganda’s constitutional amendments may have prompted the action.
A spokesperson for the UK High Commission said: “We are aware of the situation and have raised our concerns with the Ugandan government. Consular assistance has been offered to Ms. Karua.” The commission did not elaborate on the nature of its intervention.
Uganda’s internal affairs ministry declined to comment, while Kenya’s foreign affairs ministry said it was “seeking clarification” from Kampala. The incident threatens to strain relations between the two East African neighbours, already tested by trade disputes and border closures in recent years.
Karua, a prominent opposition figure in Kenya, has a history of legal activism. She was a key voice in the 2010 constitutional reform process in Kenya and has been sharply critical of what she describes as “executive overreach” in Uganda under President Yoweri Museveni’s government. Legal analysts note that Uganda’s Immigration Act grants authorities broad discretion to deny entry to anyone deemed “undesirable”, a clause often invoked against political figures.
The symposium, organised by the East Africa Law Society, is expected to proceed without Karua. The society’s president called the block “a serious infringement on the free movement of persons within the East African Community”, a principle enshrined in the bloc’s treaty.
The UK intervention marks a rare public diplomatic move in a non-consular matter, reflecting London’s continuing interest in regional rule of law. Britain provides significant aid to Uganda and maintains close ties with both governments.
Karua was released after several hours and returned to Kenya on a commercial flight. She has not issued a statement, but her office confirmed she is in good health and consulting with legal advisors.
The incident is likely to feature in discussions at the upcoming African Union summit, where both countries have pledged to deepen regional integration. For now, the episode underscores the fragile nature of political freedoms across East Africa, where borders can close without warning even for former cabinet ministers.
