The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has called on security agencies to immediately disclose the whereabouts of former Ethics and Integrity Minister Miria Matembe and either release her or present her before a competent court if she is being held on any criminal charges.
The intervention follows a petition from Matembe’s husband, Nehemiah Matembe, who asked the Society to intervene over concerns about her continued detention and to ensure that her constitutional rights are protected.
Speaking to Nile Post, ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe said the Society is concerned that Matembe has reportedly been denied access to her lawyers, family members and medical care.
He said that regardless of any allegations, she remains entitled to protections guaranteed under the Constitution.
“Every person who is arrested has a right to access lawyers, family members and medical attention. If there is an offence against her, she should be produced before a competent court and detained only in a lawful gazetted detention facility,” Asiimwe said.
The lawyers further argued that if Matembe is in lawful custody, she should not be detained beyond the constitutional 48-hour limit without being brought before court.
They warned that holding a suspect incommunicado undermines the rule of law and constitutional safeguards.
Asiimwe said the Uganda Law Society has written to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Uganda Police Force seeking clarification on the circumstances of Matembe’s arrest, the reasons for her continued detention and her current place of custody.
“We have asked the authorities to allow access to her lawyers and family, and if there are no grounds to continue holding her, she should be released on police bond. If there are charges against her, then she should be arraigned before the appropriate court without further delay,” he said.
The Society maintains that its intervention is aimed at ensuring respect for due process and constitutional safeguards, insisting that security agencies must either release Miria Matembe or charge her before a competent court in accordance with the law.
