KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abbas Byakagaba, and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), demanding that veteran politician and former Ethics Minister Miria Matembe be produced before a competent court or released, following concerns that she has been detained beyond the constitutional 48-hour limit.
Speaking on Monday, ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe said the society had formally written to the IGP, the Director of Criminal Investigations (CID), and the UPDF’s Head of Legal Affairs, Moses Wandera, seeking full disclosure of the allegations against Matembe and insisting that due process be followed.
“The family of Mzee Matembe approached the Uganda Law Society seeking legal assistance after failing to obtain information about her whereabouts. We have therefore written to the relevant authorities demanding full disclosure of the allegations, her immediate production before court, and adherence to due process,” Asiimwe said.
He maintained that if the former minister is suspected of committing any offence, the law requires that she be arraigned before court within the prescribed period.
“We are advocating for the release of Miria Matembe. If she is suspected of an offence, let her be produced before court. You cannot deny someone their personal liberty. The law is clear that a person arrested should be taken to court within 48 hours,” he added.
Matembe reportedly went missing on June 25 after security operatives allegedly raided her home. Her arrest was later confirmed by the UPDF on Sunday, although authorities have not publicly disclosed the charges she may be facing.
Her husband, Mzee Matembe, expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of communication from security agencies regarding his wife’s whereabouts.
“No one has communicated to me. I have no idea where my wife is,” he said, adding that he had entrusted the Uganda Law Society with pursuing the matter after unsuccessful attempts to obtain information from the police.
The Uganda Law Society has also demanded that Matembe be granted police bond if investigations are still ongoing, arguing that continued detention without court appearance violates the law.
By Monday evening, neither the Uganda Police Force nor the UPDF had publicly responded to the petitions. Efforts to obtain a comment from the two institutions were unsuccessful.
The Uganda Law Society says it will continue pursuing all available legal avenues until Matembe is either formally charged before a court of law or released.
