The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has condemned the prosecution of senior citizen, respected lawyer, and prominent civil society activist Hon. Miria Matembe, days after her enforced disappearance and demanded the immediate withdraw of charges against her.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ULS President SC Isaac K. Ssemakadde, called for an independent investigation into the charges promoting sectarianism contrary to section 38 (1) (d) of the penal code Act, cap 128.
On Tuesday, the Luzira Grade one magistrate’s court charged the 73 year old and remanded her to Luzira Prison, after court cited late working hours until July 1st (today) to hear her bail application.
According to prosecution, Miria Matembe in the month of June, 2026, in Nakawa division, within Kampala district, through DK TV Uganda platform, made or uttered statements that all our taxes are being spent on the Banyankole women ministers, which statements are likely to promote hostility, hatred or ill will against members of the Banyankole tribe.
Ssemakadde noted that the circumstances surrounding Matembe’s arrest raise serious legal and constitutional concerns.
According to Ssemakadde, Matembe was forcibly abducted from a relative’s home by armed men claiming to be security officers, after which she was held incommunicado at an undisclosed location for several days.
“This operation followed a public manhunt that was openly celebrated on social media by the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF)” he said.
Ssemakadde further noted that the charges were consented to by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Lino Anguzu, without obtaining representations from the accused.
“The particulars of the offence relate to statements allegedly made on a television platform criticising government policy” he said.
Ssemakadde reiterated that the act is a blatant unconstitutional attempt to criminalise protected political speech.
The exiled ULS President noted that the sequence of events revealed multiple serious constitutional and legal breaches, including: enforced disappearance and arbitrary deprivation of liberty and other rights, failure to adhere to lawful investigation, arrest and detention procedures under the Police Act and suppression of freedom of expression and political opinion protected under Article 29, of the constitution among other rights.
Senior Counsel Ssemakadde revealed that the lawyers body is seeking for the DPP to immediately withdraw all charges against Hon. Miria Matembe, and an independent, and transparent investigation be conducted into her abduction, enforced disappearance, and treatment while in custody, with all perpetrators held accountable.
“Hon. Matembe’s rights to liberty, dignity, and security be fully restored without further delay, Government of Uganda immediately ceases the criminalisation of legitimate political expression and criticism” he said.
Ssemakadde further called upon the international community particularly the United Nations to urgently engage the Government on Matembe’s case.
Hearing of the bail application for Miria Matembe is currently underway at Luzira magistrates Court.
