National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, has spoken out following the release on bail of former Ethics and Integrity Minister Miria Matembe, raising sharp concerns about her arrest and the charges she faces.
Matembe, 73, was granted bail on Wednesday evening after days in detention at Luzira Prison, where she had been remanded over allegations of promoting sectarianism.
Her arrest and continued detention had drawn public attention, particularly due to her age and reported health concerns.
Reacting to the development, Bobi Wine said he was relieved by her release but questioned the circumstances that led to her detention in the first place.
“Relieved to learn that Hon. Miria Matembe has been granted bail… It remains a shame that Matembe, a 73-year-old grandmother with an unblemished record of public service, had to suffer this ordeal in the first place,” he said.
The opposition leader linked her arrest to her recent remarks criticizing senior military leadership, suggesting that her detention may have been triggered by those comments.
He described the situation as an example of state power being used against critics.
“It really takes special cowardice… to flex State power on a defenceless grandmother whose courage he can never match,” he added.
Bobi Wine also questioned the nature of the charges against Matembe, arguing that they raise broader concerns about consistency in enforcement of the law.
“Imagine the very regime that practises sectarianism, claiming the moral authority to prosecute those who expose it,” he stated.
His remarks come amid growing scrutiny from sections of the opposition and civil society, who have raised concerns over due process, treatment of detainees, and the handling of politically sensitive cases.
Despite securing bail, Matembe is expected to return to court as the case proceeds.