Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG) and a prominent human rights lawyer, has been formally remanded to Luzira Prison until January 21, 2026, for the mention of her case. Bireete, 49, was arrested on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, by security operatives at her residence in Kiwango, Namwezi Village, Bukerere Parish, […]
Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG) and a prominent human rights lawyer, has been formally remanded to Luzira Prison until January 21, 2026, for the mention of her case.
Bireete, 49, was arrested on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, by security operatives at her residence in Kiwango, Namwezi Village, Bukerere Parish, Goma Subcounty, Mukono District. Prior to the confirmation of her arrest, Bireete posted on social media that her home was under siege by police and military officers. She later updated that she was being held at Nateete Police Post following police confirmation of her arrest.
During her court appearance on Friday, December 2, 2026, Bireete, clad in a green chiffon blouse with white flower prints, was formally charged with unlawful obtaining or disclosing of personal data, contrary to the Data Protection and Privacy Act. She pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Bireete appeared before a magistrate in Kampala, accompanied by her legal team including Lewis Rubongobya, Secretary General of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and Kampala Central MP aspirant, along with several other lawyers. Senior State Attorney Keko John, assisted by Ronald Mafabi and Allan Mucunguzi, represented the prosecution from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The court read out the charge, stating that Bireete allegedly obtained or disclosed information from the National Voter and Information Conflict of Interest records held by the Electoral Commission (EC) without prior consent. Court proceedings revealed that the incidents reportedly occurred between January and December 2025 across Kampala, Mukono, and Wakiso districts, involving National Voter Information controlled or processed by the EC. The prosecution argued that this conduct contravenes Section 35(1) and (2) of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, Part 97. Bireete denied all the allegations.
The prosecution requested an adjournment on grounds of ongoing investigations, stating:
“We shall inform the court of the status of the investigation in the next day or so. Your Honour, we have no objection to the fair adjournment.”
Bireete’s lawyers, led by Rubongobya, applied for bail, providing the required sureties. While the prosecution did not object, the court deferred the bail application until January 21, 2026, effectively keeping Bireete in custody until then.
In court, Rubongobya stated:
“We have instructions to apply for bail for the accused. How can you say that someone is releasing data illegally? We condemn that in the strongest terms possible. Of course, all these are signs that the regime is afraid of the people and of what is coming because they know they cannot win a free and fair election.”
Speaking outside court, Rubongobya added:
“People are arresting her to ensure she’s not active during the elections. They are worried about the issues she has raised regarding loopholes in the electoral process. The charges are ridiculous. The information she shared, the voter details, are public. Usually, the Electoral Commission provides political parties with the voters’ register. We have been giving copies to all who request them because it is a public document. How can this be called illegal?”
Human rights activist Miria Matembe also criticized the charges, questioning the legitimacy of the case and stating she did not know the complainant:
“No wonder the public prosecution had nothing to say. The DPP is supposed to prosecute, but this case alleges that the Bireete revealed information to the Electoral Commission without consent. Who is the complainant? We applied for bail with all sureties provided, and the prosecution did not object. Yet the magistrate denies bail until January 21, effectively keeping Sarah in prison until the elections.”
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission Chair, Justice Simon Byabakama, recently warned the public against an unauthorised website (www.registry.ugtally.com) claiming to provide voter registration and polling station information.
Byabakama said that the website is not affiliated with the EC and may mislead users or compromise personal data, urging voters to rely only on official EC platforms.
