KAMPALA
Ugandan lawyer, Human Rights Defender and electoral observer, Sarah Bireete has been arrested, days to presidential elections.
Reports allege that Bireete was arrested by heavily armed security personnel at her home under unclear circumstances.
“My house is under siege by Police and Army,” Bireete tweeted before her arrest.
Police confirmed this report, but declined to provide further details of her arrest.
“The uganda police force would like to confirm the arrest of Sarah Bireete director for center for constitutional governance,” said Rachael Kawala, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson.
Further reports indicate that the Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance was arrested following the circulation of a video on her X (formerly Twitter) account in which she is seen holding the national flag. The video was accompanied by captions suggesting that the police had yet to seek a supplementary budget to investigate the alleged misuse of the national flag, which has become widely used in opposition leader Bobi Wine’s campaigns.
“Very soon, our @PoliceUg will apply for a supplementary budget to go and investigate usage of the national flag in diaspora 😂😂😂 @mkituuma @igp_ug1 #FreeUganda,” she tweeted.
Bireete is currently being held at Central Police Station (CPS) and is expected to be arraigned before court soon.
“She is in police custody. She will be arraigned before court in due course,” Kawala added.
Critics say the arrest reflects growing intolerance to dissent expressed and the selective enforcement of laws ahead of the January 15 polls.
