Former Ethics and Integrity Minister Miria Matembe has been granted bail by the Luzira Magistrates Court, ending two days of intense legal arguments over whether the veteran politician should remain in custody while facing charges of promoting sectarianism.
In a ruling delivered yesterday afternoon, Grade One Magistrate Sheilah Gloria Atim dismissed key prosecution objections, finding that Matembe had satisfied the legal requirements for bail.
The magistrate held that the 73-year-old former minister and President Museveni’s key ally is a well-established public figure with deep roots in Uganda and no intention of absconding from court proceedings.
She observed that Matembe is married, has a known place of residence, and found no basis to doubt that her Luzira home remains her fixed place of abode despite prosecution claims that she had gone into hiding following an alleged security operation at her residence.
The ruling came after state prosecutors had argued that Matembe was a flight risk, questioned the credibility of her sureties, challenged her failure to immediately identify their residences, and contended that her age alone was not sufficient ground for release.
The prosecution had also raised concerns over her alleged lack of a fixed place of residence and questioned the authenticity of contact details provided by some of her sureties.
However, the court found that the remaining sureties presented by the defence were substantial, credible and capable of ensuring Matembe’s attendance whenever required.
Matembe was consequently released on a Shs3 million non-cash bail while her sureties were bonded at Shs2 million each.
By URN
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