Former Minister and constitutional activist Dr. Miria Koburunga Matembe has called on Ugandans to speak out against alleged human rights violations, unlawful arrests and threats to constitutional order, saying remaining silent in the face of injustice would amount to betraying the country.
Matembe made the remarks on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, while addressing the media in Kampala about her recent arrest and what she described as a security operation at her home in Luzira.
According to Matembe, suspected security operatives invaded her home on June 24, 2026, while she was away, prompting her to stay away from her residence for several days. She said the operatives, some dressed in civilian clothes and others reportedly hooded, entered her home and searched the premises.
Matembe said her 81-year-old husband, Nekemia Matembe, was at home during the incident and was left shocked by what she described as a “military terrorist-style invasion.”
She said she was later arrested on June 28 and taken into custody before appearing at Luzira Magistrates’ Court on June 30, where she faced a charge of sectarianism.
Matembe alleged that after her arrest she was blindfolded and taken to a location she believed was under military control, where she said she was denied food and subjected to harsh conditions. She said she was later transported in a vehicle commonly known as a “drone” and dumped at the Jinja Road Regional CID Office.
“I was starved to near death. I resorted to prayer because I knew my God would rescue me,” Matembe said, attributing her survival and eventual release to divine intervention.
She thanked Ugandans, civil society organisations, lawyers, youth and other supporters who stood with her during her arrest and court proceedings. She particularly acknowledged the Uganda Law Society and her sureties for their support.
Reflecting on her long involvement in Uganda’s political and constitutional affairs, Matembe said she had dedicated much of her life to promoting gender equality, human rights, democracy and justice.
She recalled serving as one of the 21 members of the Uganda Constitutional Commission that prepared the draft Constitution that became the basis for the 1995 Constitution. She also served as a Constituent Assembly delegate and participated in the Legal Affairs Committee.
Matembe said her experience during the constitutional-making process exposed her to the aspirations of Ugandans across the country, who, she said, wanted a system of governance based on dignity, equality, democracy, freedom and social justice.
“It is therefore difficult for me to remain silent when a young person is treated unfairly for holding alternative political views, when a pregnant mother cannot access basic health services, when young girls cannot access quality education, or when citizens are kidnapped by rogue security operatives without accountability,” she said.
She urged Ugandans to reject what she described as a culture of silence and collectively demand respect for the Constitution and human rights.
Matembe also criticised what she described as the erosion of the independence of institutions of justice, arguing that courts should protect citizens rather than be used as instruments of oppression.
She cited the continued detention and prosecution of several opposition figures and activists as examples of what she called excessive use of state power.
The former minister, who said she had previously supported the National Resistance Movement (NRM), questioned the treatment of citizens and senior Ugandans under the current political system.
“I who embraced the NRM revolution am a victim of illegal military raids on my home, military abduction and trumped-up charges. Then who is safe in Uganda?” she asked.
Matembe, however, said she remained hopeful that Uganda would overcome its current challenges, drawing parallels with the country’s previous periods of political turmoil.
She called for the restoration of constitutional order, saying it was the civic responsibility of every Ugandan to defend the principles enshrined in the 1995 Constitution.
“The Constitution must be respected. Human rights and human dignity must be protected, and every Ugandan must have the freedom to speak against injustice,” she said.
Matembe also urged young Ugandans not to be intimidated into silence, saying the country’s future depended on citizens defending democracy and accountability.
She concluded by encouraging Ugandans to remain courageous and united, saying her own experience had strengthened her resolve to continue speaking out for justice, human rights and democracy.
“Stop fearing; stand up firmly in our God. Speak up and let us redeem our nation from the calamity it is going through,” she said.
