Civil society activists gathered Wednesday outside the Luzira Chief Magistrate’s Court chanting songs and demanding the release of former Ethics and Integrity Minister Miria Matembe as she appeared for her bail application hearing. The activists described Matembe’s arrest as an attack on women’s voices and warned that it could discourage women from participating in public affairs.
Women’s movement activist Flavia Kalule said Matembe was arrested from her home and appeared to be in pain when she appeared before court. “She has been in government, and she served this country. But now they have arrested her. It creates fear. Women will not want to come to public spaces. But we are not going to be silenced,” Kalule said. Human rights defender Francis Mwinjukye, the Buhweju county Member of Parliament, described the arrest as a sign of desperation, saying authorities were targeting people who speak the truth. “Any government that goes for the women has gone for its last card to leave power,” he said.
“They are scared of very old women like Matembe. At least they would get scared of young people who can move. But they are scared of everybody that can speak the truth.” He urged men to stand with women in defending rights and freedoms. “We must push together… irrespective of our differences whether they are tribal, whether they are political parties, whether it is religious, whether male or female, whether young or old,” he said. Pan-African feminist and Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) Board Chairperson Solome Nakaweesi also condemned the arrest, saying rights should not be treated as privileges.
“A right is a right. And once somebody’s right is not protected because you think it is not you, soon it will be you,” she said. Nakaweesi said Uganda must continue protecting freedoms of expression and assembly. “We are at the epic of the struggle. We must not move backwards. We must continue moving forward,” she said. Matembe’s lawyers asked the Luzira Chief Magistrate’s Court to release her on non-cash bail pending trial.
The application was presented by Uganda Law Society Vice President Anthony Asiimwe, who described Matembe as a former minister, constitutional delegate and advocate with a long record of public service. Asiimwe told court that Matembe was seeking release on her own recognisance, arguing that she should not be required to expose family members, friends and associates to the pressure of standing surety.
The defence told court that armed men allegedly raided Matembe’s residence in Portbell Lake Drive Zone, Luzira Parish, Nakawa Division, on June 23, 2026, while searching for her. Her lawyers said Matembe had left home for her routine morning exercise before the raid and later stayed with friends after being informed about the incident.
They further told court that she was arrested on June 28 and later produced before court, where she was remanded to Luzira Prison for one night. The defence also argued that Matembe appeared before court in poor health and required medical attention due to back pain reportedly confirmed on Police Form 24. Her lawyers maintained that she poses no flight risk, has no criminal record and would not interfere with investigations or witnesses. They further argued that the circumstances surrounding the case appeared politically motivated. “The courts should protect the vulnerable,” Asiimwe told court, asking that Matembe be released on her own recognisance.
The defence presented four sureties, including Amuru District Woman MP Ruth Akello, Rushenyi County MP Naome Kabasharira, lawyer Prima Kwagala and Godber Tumushabe, Executive Director of GLISS and Assistant Lecturer at Makerere University School of Law. The prosecution requested time to prepare its response. Magistrate Sheilah Gloria Atim is expected to make her ruling on the bail application-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
