KAMPALA
A Ugandan court has remanded prominent lawyer Sarah Bireete to Luzira prison until 21 January after she was charged with unlawfully obtaining or disclosing voters’ personal data.
Bireete, 49, a Civil Society Boss at Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), she is a resident of Kiwango-Namwezi village in Mukono. She was arrested on Tuesday December 30, 2025, and has been detained at Natete police station until recent when she appeared before the Grade One Magistrate’s Court at Biluganda Road in Kampala on Friday.
Prosecutors allege that between January and December 2025, Bireete and others still at large unlawfully obtained or disclosed national voters’ information without the consent of the Electoral Commission. The alleged offences are said to have occurred in several parts of the country, including Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso districts.
The Magistrate, Winnie Nankya Jatiko read the charges to Bireete. According to the charge sheet, Bireete is accused of contravening Section 35 (1) and (2) of Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act, which criminalises the unlawful obtaining or disclosure of personal data.
Chief State Attorney Joan Keko told the court that the matter had come up for plea, but said the accused declined to take one. She denied the accusations.
She told the court she understood the charge but maintained her innocence. “It’s not true,” she said. The prosecution asked the court for an adjournment to allow further investigations. Defence lawyers objected to the request and indicated they intended to apply for bail.
However, the magistrate declined to rule on the bail application, saying the prosecution needed time to respond. She adjourned the case and ordered that Bireete be remanded to Luzira prison until 21 January.
Reactions
Former Leader of Opposition Winnie Kiiza said she was alarmed by what she described as shrinking civic space and intolerance of dissent.
“I am deeply and seriously concerned about the direction in which our country is heading. When targeted suppression and overt censorship of opposing views overtake our collective liberties, we all have reason to worry. Sarah Bireete is not a criminal; she is a human rights advocate. How did we fall so low?” Kiiza said.
Human rights organisation Global Rights Alert Uganda condemned what it termed the unlawful arrest and continued detention of Dr Sarah Bireete, saying it violated constitutional guarantees.
“We stand in solidarity with the Uganda Women’s Movement in condemning the unlawful arrest and continued detention of Dr Sarah Bireete. The denial of due process violates Article 23 of Uganda’s Constitution and undermines the rule of law,” the organisation said, calling for her immediate and unconditional release and the protection of all human rights defenders.
Former ethics and integrity minister and Executive Director of FIDA-Uganda, Miria Matembe, expressed frustration over the case, questioning its legal basis.
“It is my first time regretting why I fought for the rights of women to be set free. The case against Sarah Bireete is not clear; there is no complainant,” Matembe said.
