The president of the Law Society of Kenya, Charles Kanjama, has condemned the Ugandan government’s decision to deny entry to and deport senior counsel Martha Karua.Karua, who is part of the legal team representing opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye was turned away on Monday upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport. Karua, who has since vowed not to return to Uganda until President Museveni is out of power because “he’s not a president for life” had travelled to Uganda to observe bail proceedings involving fellow lawyer and People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party president Erias Lukwago, and to participate in activities marking the Uganda Law Society’s 70th anniversary.Addressing journalists at Uganda Law Society House in Kampala, Kanjama described the deportation as a threat to the independence of the legal profession and the East African Community’s commitment to the free movement of people and professionals.He said lawyers have a duty to represent their clients without fear or favour, regardless of the allegations against them, and warned that attacks on lawyers performing their professional duties undermine both the administration of justice and the rule of law.“When lawyers take the oath of office, we take the oath to fight for the rule of law and the administration of justice without fear or favour. Every lawyer knows that his profession gives him the responsibility and the duty to act without intimidation, to ensure that his client, no matter how unpopular, is able to enjoy their full rights of access to justice,” said Kanjama.He explained that advocate-client confidentiality and legal privilege are essential safeguards within the justice system.“Every client is entitled to speak for their lawyer. Without fear that what they said to their lawyer, their privileged communication will be disclosed to any third party,” Kanjama said.Kanjama on the legal professionKanjama noted that Karua had been granted a temporary practising certificate to represent Besigye alongside senior advocate Lukwago. He said she entered Uganda lawfully before immigration officials denied her entry and deported her without providing a detailed explanation.“She came to Uganda on a legitimate observer mission. Her passport was duly stamped. She was here in accordance with the law. It was extremely unfortunate that she was then denied entry into the country and forcibly deported. The reason we have learnt is just three words – persona non grata.”He said the incident sends the wrong message at a time when East African states are promoting regional integration and the free movement of people and services.“We recognize that in East Africa, we have heard that there is a desire to pursue even greater integration and to even reach the level of political federation. But that integration begins now. It begins with the ordinary men and women of our various countries being able to trade with each other, to travel to each neighboring country without obstacles. It begins with us having that cordiality with one another,” he said.Kanjama warned that lawyers must be able to represent clients across borders without intimidation.“As lawyers, we make a commitment that we will continue, without fear or favour, representing our clients across East Africa. We are also going to undertake strong advocacy so governments respect the rights of lawyers to practise without threats, intimidation or interference.”“And so when the administration just rejects a person who actually has a special license to come even and practice law in Uganda as persona non grata, it sends a chilling signal. It sends a very discouraging message to the citizens of all the East African countries. But we will not be bowed, we will not relent in that desire that is not just something elite, it belongs to us as professionals to pursue greater regional integration, and to create more effective spaces for the pursuit of justice, rule of law, and constitutionalism in each of our partner states.”The Uganda Law Society (ULS) said Karua’s deportation and the arrest of Lukwago point to growing pressure on lawyers handling politically sensitive cases. ULS vice president Anthony Asiimwe said the society would not allow the incidents to pass without action.“This is unacceptable. We shall not allow it to pass because if we let it pass, then it is going to be a big blow to our practice of law across the East African Community. We shall be communicating the steps we shall take to rectify this unfortunate error.”Asiimwe also announced that members of the Uganda Law Society would stage a nationwide strike on Friday to protest what he described as continued disregard for the rule of law and increasing interference with the work of lawyers.“As the Radical New Bar, apart from issuing a statement of condemnation, which we did earlier, when consultation with our colleagues, the governing counsel here of the Radical New Bar, our counterparts from East African society, and other societies across the East African community, we shall be taking the necessary steps. What should come out clearly is that this is unacceptable,” said Asiimwe.He added that members of the society would lay down their tools in protest.“We intend to begin our strike to show our dissatisfaction with the complete disrespect and disregard for the rule of law in the country.”The Law Society of Kenya said it would continue working with the Uganda Law Society and other bar associations in the region to defend the independence of lawyers and uphold the rule of law across East Africa.The post Kenya Law Society condemns Karua’s deportation from Uganda appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.