Uganda Blocks Opposition Lawyer, Forcing Trial Defense to Walk Out

Uganda's immigration authorities turned away Martha Karua, Kenya's former Justice Minister and chief lawyer for opposition leader Kizza Besigye, at the airport on June 22. Without her, Besigye's legal team withdrew from his court hearing in protest. The trial proceeded without any defense present. Uganda gave no reason. The move sidesteps the courts entirely—an executive action that bypasses any judge's say.