The tense search for veteran politician and women’s rights activist Miria Matembe has come to an end after security operatives reportedly arrested her following two days of hiding. Her arrest comes days after a controversial raid on her Luzira residence, an operation that had sparked concern among family members, supporters, and human rights activists.
Information shared by media personality JK Kazoora, Matembe’s nephew, indicates that the former minister was apprehended and taken to Mbuya. According to Kazoora, authorities have already provided her with medication as uncertainty remains over whether she will be released or transferred to another detention facility.
What initially appeared to be a successful arrest during the June 26 raid has now been revealed as a failed operation. Kazoora disclosed that Matembe was not at home when security personnel stormed her residence and that she reportedly received advance information about the operation while exercising outdoors.
Upon learning that security operatives were looking for her, Matembe allegedly abandoned her routine and sought temporary shelter nearby. She is said to have first hidden close to her neighborhood before quietly relocating to safer locations where she remained beyond the reach of security agencies.
Family members believed the situation had eased after assurances reportedly came from senior government officials that security forces were no longer pursuing her. Encouraged by the information, relatives and friends reportedly began communicating more freely, believing the threat of arrest had passed.
However, the apparent calm proved short-lived. Kazoora claims security agencies tracked some of the communications involving individuals close to Matembe. The operation reportedly led to the arrest of two of her associates, whose questioning is said to have helped investigators determine her whereabouts.
The developments followed the brief detention of prominent activists Dr. Sarah Bireete and Eunice Musiime earlier on Monday. Although authorities have not publicly linked the two incidents, the arrests intensified speculation surrounding the security operation targeting Matembe and those close to her.
A former Ethics and Integrity Minister and one of the influential figures behind Uganda’s 1995 Constitution, Matembe has become a fierce critic of the government in recent years. Her outspoken stance on human rights, alleged abductions, and the increasing influence of the military in politics has often placed her at odds with authorities. As the nation awaits official communication on her fate, attention remains fixed on what happens next.
