Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde has strongly condemned the recent security raid on former Ethics and Integrity Minister Miria Matembe’s residence, describing the operation as a calculated act of state intimidation.
Security operatives reportedly stormed Matembe’s home in Luzira at around 10:00am, forced entry in her absence, and conducted a prolonged search before leaving with electronic devices.
Authorities are yet to publicly explain the purpose of the raid, raising questions about its legality and motive.
Reacting to the incident, Ssemakadde accused the state of targeting dissenting voices and using security agencies to instill fear among critics.
“This is state-sponsored intimidation, plain and simple,” he said. “Raiding a 78-year-old constitutional architect isn’t about ‘security’—it’s about sending a message: no one is untouchable. The fact that they didn’t even have a clear reason proves the raid itself was the point.”
Matembe, a veteran politician and former government minister, has in recent days criticized senior military leadership, including remarks attributed to Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Her outspoken stance on governance and human rights has placed her among the government’s most prominent critics.
Ssemakadde linked the raid to a broader pattern of alleged state repression, pointing to previous incidents involving arrests and enforced disappearances.
“It’s the same playbook we’ve seen time and again—enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, weaponized laws,” he said. “I was forced into exile for speaking truth to power, and this is more of the same.”
He further warned that the legal fraternity would not remain silent, signaling potential institutional response from the ULS.
“The Radical New Bar won’t stay silent. We’ll keep calling it out,” he added.
The incident has intensified debate around civil liberties and the role of security agencies in Uganda’s political environment. Human rights advocates continue to demand transparency and accountability, urging authorities to clarify the legal basis of the operation.