KAMPALA — President Yoweri Museveni directed security officials to act on the detention of former Ethics and Integrity Minister Dr Miria Matembe after religious leaders raised concerns about her whereabouts during a meeting with him, Pastor Joseph Sserwadda has revealed.
Sserwadda, a member of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, said the President appeared unaware that Matembe had been arrested when the matter was brought to his attention by the clerics.
According to the pastor, Museveni immediately called for clarification from a senior military official and ordered that the matter be addressed.
“President Museveni personally ordered Miria Matembe’s release during our meeting,” Sserwadda said, adding that the former minister was later produced in court.
Pastor Joseph Sserwadda disclosed the details on Sunday, July 5, 2026, a day after President Yoweri Museveni used a televised national address to respond to concerns raised by religious leaders over human rights and the rule of law.
Sserwadda said Museveni was initially unaware that former Ethics and Integrity Minister Dr Miria Matembe had been taken into custody when the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) raised the matter during their meeting.
“At the time, he was unaware of the arrest of Mrs Matembe. He called a soldier to bring him his phone, then called a high-ranking army officer to establish what had happened to Matembe. He did that while we were all seated there,” Sserwadda said.
According to Sserwadda, the President sought clarification after the religious leaders deliberately avoided using the word “arrest” in their statement, instead saying Matembe had been “picked up.”
“On the phone call, the President said he wanted to know what Matembe had done, because we did not use the word ‘arrest’ in our statement. We said she was ‘picked up.’ We also mentioned that she was sick,” he added.
Sserwadda said the meeting took place on Thursday afternoon and ended at about 5pm. Later that evening, Matembe was produced before court and formally charged. She was granted bail the following day.
The pastor defended the IRCU’s decision to engage the Head of State on the matter, saying the council follows established internal procedures before speaking out on issues of public concern.
“In the IRCU, we have rules that govern the way we speak; we do not just comment on anything,” he said.
He further revealed that the council informed Museveni of its plans to visit opposition politicians currently in detention as part of its pastoral outreach and engagement on human rights concerns.
Matembe, 73, had been out of public view for several days after security operatives reportedly raided her home in Luzira, triggering concern among relatives, lawyers and members of the public.
She was later charged at Luzira Magistrate’s Court with promoting sectarianism, following allegations that remarks she made during a television interview were likely to promote hostility or ill will against members of the Banyankole community.
The former minister was subsequently granted bail by Principal Magistrate Grade One Gloria Atim, who considered her age, health condition and constitutional right to be presumed innocent pending trial.
Museveni also addressed Matembe’s case during his national address on Saturday, saying he had watched footage of her court appearance after it was brought to his attention by religious leaders.
However, Matembe responded sharply to the President’s comments, accusing him of making light of her ordeal. She nevertheless said she had forgiven both Museveni and his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Matembe, a lawyer, constitutional expert and veteran women’s rights activist, has in recent years remained one of the government’s outspoken critics, particularly on governance, human rights and the role of security agencies in politics.
