Miria Matembe Has Been Arrested for Calling Herself Museveni’s Sister — Claims Muhoozi as Sarah Bireete and Eunice Musiime are Released

KAMPALA, Uganda — Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, claimed Sunday that former Ethics and Integrity Minister Dr. Miria Matembe had been arrested, escalating an increasingly bitter public feud that has unfolded alongside a broader crackdown on government critics.

Muhoozi made the announcement in two posts on X, though he provided no evidence to support the claim, and there was no immediate confirmation from police, military authorities, Matembe’s family or her lawyers that she had been taken into custody.

In the first post, Muhoozi wrote: “I have forgotten the name of that very, very ugly woman who used to call herself Mzee’s sister. What was her name?”

Shortly after, he followed with another post claiming: “Matembe has been arrested for impersonation. Mzee only has one sister. Auntie Kajubiri.”

The military chief appeared to be referring to Matembe’s long-standing description of President Yoweri Museveni as her “brother” — a political expression she has frequently used over the years because of their shared history in the National Resistance Movement before she later fell out with the ruling establishment.

As of Sunday evening, there was no official statement confirming that Matembe had been arrested, and the circumstances surrounding Muhoozi’s claim remained unclear.

The latest remarks come after several days of escalating tensions between the outspoken former minister and Uganda’s military leadership.

Matembe recently emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the detention of Erias Lukwago, President of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF). She publicly condemned what she described as the mistreatment of opposition leaders and strongly criticized Muhoozi over a wave of alleged abductions and enforced disappearances.

Her criticism was followed by an operation at her Luzira residence last week when security operatives searched the property for several hours before leaving with electronic devices. Matembe said she was not home during the raid and later questioned whether authorities had intended to arrest or abduct her. Authorities did not immediately explain the purpose of the operation.

The raid drew renewed attention to the deteriorating relationship between Matembe and the government she once served.

A former cabinet minister and one of the architects of Uganda’s 1995 Constitution, Matembe was once regarded as a close ally of President Museveni before breaking ranks with the ruling National Resistance Movement over constitutional reforms and governance issues. Since then, she has become one of Uganda’s most prominent voices on constitutionalism, women’s rights and civil liberties.

Muhoozi, who has increasingly used social media to comment on political developments, has in recent weeks repeatedly targeted opposition politicians, activists and government critics in a series of inflammatory posts.

His latest claim regarding Matembe comes amid heightened scrutiny of security operations against opposition figures following the detention of Lukwago and reports of raids targeting government critics.

By Sunday evening, officials had not publicly commented on Muhoozi’s assertion that Matembe had been arrested, leaving her status unverified.

And Muhoozi only claimed that Matembe was arrested for calling herself Museveni’s sister yet the president has only one sister Violet Kajubiri. (Read more about Kajubiri HERE).

Meanwhile, The Pearl Times has confirmed that Sarah Bireete and Eunice Musiime, who were abducted hours ago, have been released.

Meanwhile, first son Muhoozi has threatened to hang Erias Lukwago if the Kabaka does not beg him to release the prominent lawyer, even as his legal team spoke about his deteriorating health condition that forced prisons authorities to rush him to Mulago Hospital as his family plans to take him abroad for further treatment. (See Details Here, There and Over There).