By Aggrey Baba
Activist and former Ethics and Integrity Minister Miria Matembe has reflected on her 17-year journey in Parliament, saying that although she faced inappropriate male attention (including what she described as predatory behavior from some male legislators) she walked out untouched.
Matembe, who once served as Uganda’s most vocal female legislator and advocate for women’s rights, said that life in Parliament was not for the faint-hearted, especially for women.
While recounting her experiences after leaving government, she stated that many female MPs continue to face harassment in silence, some falling prey to senior colleagues who misuse their positions of power.
During her time in Parliament, Matembe told Newvision that she observed that male MPs often objectified female colleagues and paid undue attention to their physical appearance.
She recalled moments when some MPs, despite her position and outspokenness, would fixate on her legs and body rather than on her contributions to national discourse. She said many would admire from a distance, but her firm personality kept them at bay. One day, during plenary, Matembe said she received a message from a male parliamentarian, telling her: “I have seen knicker. You’re wearing a white one.”
Her remarks come in the wake of an anonymous confession circulating on social media, allegedly authored by a former female MP, lamenting how her dignity had been eroded by inappropriate relationships and political compromise during her time in Parliament.
Matembe responded to the claims by distancing herself from such experiences, arguing that women who value themselves and know their purpose can overcome such environments without succumbing to pressure.
She also addressed the broader culture in public institutions, noting that male entitlement and misconduct are not limited to Parliament but are also prevalent in schools, churches, and local councils. According to her, the problem stems from a deeply ingrained moral failure, which she believes is both spiritual and societal.
In her years of leadership, Matembe actively documented reports of sexual harassment in government and Parliament, collecting testimonies from victims who alleged mistreatment at the hands of ministers and MPs.
When she attempted to present the names in Parliament, she faced resistance, and her efforts were blocked by colleagues who feared public exposure.
Even after her exit from elective politics, Matembe said the inappropriate behavior did not stop. She narrated an incident where a senior figure in Parliament, who had previously shown respect, openly told her to stop wearing trousers and instead dress in a way that revealed her legs for visual pleasure. Though she dismissed it, she highlighted the incident as a reminder of the objectification that persists even in supposedly dignified spaces.
Despite the challenges, Matembe said she left Parliament without any personal scandal, attributing it to self-respect, strong values, and a clear understanding of her mission in leadership.
She urged women aspiring for public office to enter the space fully aware of the pressures and tactics used to derail them, and to maintain their boundaries no matter the circumstances.
Her advice to women in politics is to resist being used and to understand that strength in leadership does not come from submission to exploitation but from clarity of purpose and dignity in action.
