Editorial Team/Staff Writers

Former Ethics and Integrity Minister Miria Matembe has been granted bail days after she was abducted and later charged with promoting sectarianism.

Ms Matembe first appeared in Luzira Chief Magistrate’s Court on June 30 and was remanded after magistrate Sheila Gloria Atim ruled that her bail application could be processed after meeting all the requirements.

Prosecution alleges that Ms Matembe, who has roundly criticised the government over corruption and human rights violations, made statements on DK TV Uganda in June 2026 that are tantamount to promoting sectarianism.

She reportedly said that “all our taxes are being spent on the Banyankore women ministers.”

Ms Matembe, 73, walked with support and grimaced in pain when she first appeared in court. But after being granted bail on Wednesday, she walked unaided and chanted: “Demand, demand your rights.” Her sympathisers chanted: “Never, never surrender.”

Prominent defenders of women’s rights, including Sarah Bireete, the executive director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, have been at the forefront of pushing for a fair trial.

In solidarity, Ms Bireete used Ms Matembe’s headshot as her profile image on her X account.

Ms Matembe’s abduction followed threats by the Commander of the Defence Forces and President Museveni’s son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, that he was going to arrest her.

“I am going to arrest her today. Mzee hardly thinks of idiots like her,” he wrote, using the Swahili word to refer to his father. His posts, which he has since deleted, did not mention charges of promoting sectarianism.

Before her abduction, Ms Matembe, who fell out with Mr Museveni after opposing his move to remove presidential age limits from the constitution, had featured in video clips by content creators criticising Gen Kainerugaba and blaming him for the abduction of former Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago.

Security forces later raided her home in Luzira and forced their way into her bedroom. Her husband, Nehemia Matembe, told the local media she was out when they stormed the house.

Meanwhile, Mr Lukwago, a co-lead lawyer for Dr Kizza Besigye in his treason trial, has since been charged with misprision of treason, or the crime of knowing that someone has committed or is planning to commit treason and deliberately failing to report it to the authorities.

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