Uganda’s so-called Law Council has once again proven that it is nothing more than a puppet dangling on the strings of President Museveni’s autocratic regime. By denying Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua a special practicing certificate, the council has spat in the face of justice, exposing its utter disdain for transparency, fairness, and the rule of law. This is not just an insult to Karua but a damning indictment of Uganda’s entire legal framework, which has been hijacked to crush opposition voices.
Let’s not mince words: this decision reeks of cowardice, incompetence, and political meddling. Justice Irene Mulyagonja, the figurehead at the helm of this circus, has shown herself to be a disgrace to the legal profession. Prof. GW Kanyeihamba’s blistering critique of her, labeling her incapable of even basic decision-making, should serve as a wake-up call. But who are we kidding? Mulyagonja’s role is not to uphold justice but to serve Museveni’s whims like a dutiful lapdog. How can anyone expect fairness when the judiciary is filled with spineless sycophants more concerned about pleasing State House than protecting the law?
The council’s rejection of Karua’s application is a calculated move aimed at sabotaging Dr. Kizza Besigye’s defense in yet another sham trial before the General Court Martial. Besigye, along with his co-defendant Obeid Lutale, faces trumped-up charges designed to silence dissent. Bringing Karua into the fray would have exposed the fraudulent nature of this process, something Museveni’s regime could not tolerate. By blocking her, the council has ensured that the courtroom remains a playground for state-sponsored injustice.
What’s particularly sickening is the council’s flimsy reasoning. Karua provided every necessary document, including proof of her standing as a lawyer in Kenya and a request for expedited processing. Yet, the council dismissed her with the arrogance of a kangaroo court. This is not about qualifications; it’s about fear—fear of an outsider with the guts to challenge their dirty tactics.
The Uganda Law Council’s actions also highlight the broader rot within the country’s legal and political systems. Under Museveni’s iron-fisted rule, the judiciary has been stripped of its independence, reduced to a tool for oppression. This latest episode is just another example of how the regime uses institutions to protect itself while trampling on the rights of its citizens.
But this disgraceful act has not gone unnoticed. Karua’s supporters, along with legal experts, are calling for an overhaul of Uganda’s legal system. The Uganda Law Society must step up, though one wonders if it too has been infiltrated by the regime’s goons. Ugandans deserve a legal system that respects justice, not one that dances to the tunes of a dictator.
Museveni and his cronies may think they’ve won this battle, but they are only fueling the fire of resistance. Denying Karua won’t silence the cries for justice—it will amplify them. As for Justice Mulyagonja and her band of clowns, history will remember them not as custodians of the law but as its executioners.
This farce must end. The people of Uganda must rise against these shameless enablers of tyranny.
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