The Uganda Law Society has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba, and the Head of Legal Affairs at the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Moses Wandera, demanding the arraignment of veteran politician and former ethics minister, Ms Miria Matembe, who they say has been detained beyond the required 48 hours.
ULS Vice President Mr Anthony Asiimwe said on Monday that the IGP and UPDF legal Boss should ensure that Ms Matembe, whose arrest was confirmed by the army on Sunday, is produced before court.
‘The family of Mzee Matembe has petitioned the Uganda Law Society to give them all the legal support. Mzee Matembe has been unable to obtain any information regarding his wife. He went to the police, and he was not given any report,’ Mr Asiimwe said.
Ms Matembe went missing on Thursday, June 25, a few moments after security operatives raided her home.
But efforts to trace her whereabouts have been fruitless since then.
Mr Asiimwe said: ‘We have written directly to IGP Byakagaba, CID Boss Magambo, and the head of legal affairs at UPDF, Moses Wandera, seeking full disclosure of the allegations, immediate production in court, and adherence to due process.”
He added: ‘We are advocating for the release of Miria Matembe. If she is suspected of an offence, let her be produced to Court. You can’t deny personal liberty. We have written to the IGP, CID and UPDF.’
He further emphasised the legal timeframe for detention, quoting provisions of the Police Act.
‘We are demanding that she be given a bond. The Police Act says that if someone is arrested, she should be produced in court not more than 48 hours,’ Asiimwe added.
Mr Matembe, visibly distressed, expressed deep frustration over the lack of communication from authorities.
‘No one has communicated to me; everyone has the same sentiment. I have no idea where my wife is,’ he said. ‘I am glad I have not seen more arrests at home.’
He confirmed handing over all matters concerning his wife’s arrest to the Uganda Law Society after repeated unsuccessful attempts to obtain information from the police.
As of Monday evening, there was no official response from police or UPDF spokespersons on the petitions, as they neither picked up nor returned calls from this publication.
The ULS has vowed to pursue the matter through all available legal channels until Matembe is either formally charged in court or released.