Kenyan politician and senior counsel Martha Karua has signalled plans to intensify efforts to secure the release of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye ahead of his next scheduled court appearance on February 24, 2026 in Kampala.
Karua made the remarks this week during an interview on Citizen TV Kenya, where she discussed Besigye’s continued detention and reported deteriorating health while in custody.
She said she expects to travel to Uganda before the hearing to meet Besigye at Luzira Prison, where he remains on remand, in order to confer with the defence team and prepare for the treason case.
“His case is coming up on the 24th of this month. I propose to go earlier so that we are able to confer with him in Luzira prison, together with the other counsels, so that we can get ready,” Karua said.
She described Besigye’s health condition as worrying, attributing it to the length of his incarceration.
“How’s he doing? Poorly. After a long period of incarceration and reports of bad health, he’s suffering poor health. Remember, he’s been detained for over one year,” she added.
Besigye has been in detention since November 2024 after he was picked from Nairobi, Kenya alongside Obeid Lutala and brought to Uganda to face treason and related charges.
His arrest and transfer sparked debate among opposition figures and rights advocates in both Uganda and Kenya.
Karua was previously part of Besigye’s legal team and in May last year led the defence before the General Court Martial, after securing temporary practising credentials to represent him in Uganda..
At the time, she raised concerns about his health, detention conditions and adherence to due process.
The veteran opposition figure, a former presidential contender and long-time critic of President Yoweri Museveni, has since been at the centre of repeated bail applications.
Despite arguments by the defence that he has spent longer than legally mandated on remand, courts have declined to grant him release, drawing criticism from sections of the opposition and human rights advocates.
With the February 24 hearing approaching, Karua’s planned visit signals what could be another legal push to challenge Besigye’s continued detention and seek relief through the courts.
