Kenyan politician and former presidential candidate Martha Karua was denied entry to Uganda and deported on June 22, 2026, after being detained by immigration and security authorities at Entebbe International Airport. Karua, a prominent opposition figure, recounted that officials seized her phones by force and held her for several hours before placing her on a return flight to Nairobi.
The incident has sparked diplomatic tensions between Kenya and Uganda, with Kenyan officials demanding an explanation. Ugandan authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the reasons for the deportation, but sources suggest it may be linked to Karua's planned meetings with Ugandan opposition leaders.
Karua, who ran for Kenya's presidency in 2022, described the treatment as a violation of her rights and called for a regional investigation. The deportation has drawn condemnation from human rights groups and political figures across East Africa.
