Former Ethics and Integrity Minister Miria Matembe has been charged with promoting sectarianism and remanded to Luzira Prison after appearing before the Luzira Magistrate’s Court.
The prosecution alleges that Matembe made statements likely to promote hostility, hatred or ill will against members of the Banyankole ethnic group, contrary to Uganda’s laws on sectarianism.
The court remanded the 73-year-old former minister after formally reading the charges against her.
During the proceedings, Matembe appealed to the court to allow her to seek urgent medical attention, saying she was unwell and required a medical scan.
“I am not asking to run away. I am asking to be treated as a human being. I came seeking medical attention because I know my body, and I know something is wrong. Please allow me to go for the scan,” Matembe told the court.
She added that any questions about her condition could be addressed through a medical examination.
“I ask for mercy, justice, and compassion. May God give us all hearts that value human dignity. Justice without humanity is not justice at all,” she said.
Supporters and human rights advocates who attended the court session expressed concern over Matembe’s health, describing her as appearing physically weak while remaining resolute during the proceedings.
Social media users and opposition figures also called for her to receive appropriate medical care while in custody, with some questioning the decision to remand the elderly former minister despite her reported health concerns.
The prosecution has not publicly commented on Matembe’s request for medical treatment beyond the court proceedings.
Matembe, a former cabinet minister and long-time advocate for governance and human rights reforms, has in recent years been an outspoken critic of the government on issues of accountability, constitutionalism and the rule of law.
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