By Patricia Nakayima

Earlier this week, security operatives raided the home of former Minister of Ethics and Integrity and women’s rights advocate Miria Matembe in Kampala while she was away attending to personal matters.

During the operation, the officers reportedly searched the residence and confiscated several electronic devices, including laptops, mobile phones, and storage devices.

Following the operation, Matembe said she had not returned home, citing concerns for her safety.

In response, the Uganda Women’s Movement on Friday issued a statement condemning the raid and expressing solidarity with the veteran activist and former minister.

In the statement, the movement called on security agencies to respect the rule of law and due process, arguing that if Matembe is suspected of committing any offence, she should be summoned through the Uganda Police Force rather than having her home raided.

“We therefore raise our collective voice to say what we all know: Stop raids on her home. Stop raids on Ugandan citizens. What you are doing is wrong, and you know it,” the statement reads.

Matembe is widely recognised as one of Uganda’s leading champions of democracy, accountability, and women’s rights. Her decades of public service have left a lasting mark on the country’s feminist movement.

“Long before it was fashionable to speak truth to power, Matembe did so,” the statement noted, describing her as a leader who consistently stood for justice, integrity, and equal rights for women.

The statement concluded:

“We stand firm in solidarity. We refuse silence. We will not bow.”

The movement also paid tribute to Matembe and her husband, Nickemiah Matembe, for their contributions to Uganda through public service, saying they deserve respect and recognition.

Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, also said her home had been raided amid suspicions that she could be hiding Matembe. Bireete argued that the raids point to poor coordination and intelligence gathering within the country’s security services.

At the time of publication, the relevant government and security authorities had not responded to the concerns raised by the Uganda Women’s Movement.

Matembe is not the only target of recent security raids. Ahead of the January 2026 general election, Sarah Bireete’s home was raided before she was charged with unlawful access to voters’ register data. She was later released at the end of January on a cash bail of UGX 1 million.

Following the previous general election, Barbara Itungo Kyagulanyi, the wife of opposition leader Bobi Wine, also reported that military officers raided her home. Itungo said she was assaulted and molested during the operation.

The movement’s leaders said raids and intimidation undermine constitutional rights and democratic governance, warning that such actions erode public confidence in the country’s institutions.