The Uganda Law Council has scheduled a special meeting to address the resubmitted application by Kenyan advocate Martha Karua for a temporary practicing certificate.

According to a statement issued on January 3, 2025, the meeting is set for Monday, January 6, 2025.

The meeting comes in the wake of a significant petition supported by the Uganda Law Society, which has expressed deep concerns over the Council’s previous denial of Karua’s application.

On December 23, 2024, Martha Karua, a senior counsel from Kenya, reapplied for the certificate on December 23, 2024, after her initial request was turned down on December 6, 2024.

Her case has attracted the attention of not only its implications on legal practice across borders but also for the high-profile cases she aims to defend., including that of Dr Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale, who are due in court on January 7, 2025.

The Uganda Law Society’s intervention, led by its president, Isaac Ssemakadde, underscores a pivotal moment for legal professionals in East Africa.

Read Also: Karua Slams Uganda Law Council over License Denial

The decision by the Law Council will not only affect Counsel Karua’s ability to practice in Uganda but could also set a precedent for how cross-border legal partnerships are managed within the region.

According to Ssemakadde, the Council should this time be transparent and offer Karua a certificate.

“This is a crucial opportunity for the Council to reexamine its approach to requests for cross-border legal practice and demonstrate true transparency and fairness,” he said.

As the meeting approaches, discussions are common among legal circles about the implications of denying or granting such applications, with many advocating for a more open policy to foster legal expertise exchange and support across borders.

This case could potentially influence future policies regarding the mobility of legal professionals in Africa, promoting or hindering the ideal of a unified legal market within the continent.