Dr. Sarah Bireete, a leading human rights and constitutional governance expert, has been arrested, the Kampala Metropolitan Police confirmed.
Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala announced the detention on the Uganda Police Force’s official X account (formerly Twitter), stating: “The Uganda Police Force would like to confirm the arrest of Sarah Bireete, director for the Centre for Constitutional Governance. She is in police custody and will be arraigned before court in due course.”
Authorities have not disclosed the reasons for Bireete’s arrest or her current place of detention. Reports indicate that security personnel first surrounded her residence before taking her into custody.
The detention has drawn national and international attention, coming at a sensitive moment as Uganda prepares for the 2026 general elections.
Critics argue that the arrest could be part of broader efforts to silence civic voices in a climate of growing concern over electoral violence, political interference by security forces, and shrinking civic space, especially as the country heads to the 2026 general elections.
About Dr. Sarah Bireete
Dr. Bireete is the founding partner and Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), a prominent Ugandan watchdog organization based in Ntinda, Kampala.
With over 20 years of experience in legal reform, civic engagement, and policy advocacy, she is widely regarded as a leading voice for human rights and democratic accountability.
She has played a key role in monitoring electoral processes, assessing political climates, mobilizing citizens, and advocating for electoral integrity in Uganda. She has also served as Chairperson of both the East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network (E-HORN) and the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM), linking civil society election observers across East Africa and globally.
Her previous roles include serving as a public defender with the Public Defenders Association of Uganda and practicing law at Dickens Kamugisha & Co. Advocates in Kampala. Dr. Bireete has been a frequent panelist and commentator on political and civic issues across media outlets and X spaces, making her a prominent public intellectual in Uganda.
Dr. Bireete’s activism has occasionally drawn controversy. She faced past charges related to embezzlement and abuse of office during her tenure as National Coordinator of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region. While initially convicted, she was ultimately acquitted by Uganda’s Supreme Court, which found insufficient evidence linking her to the alleged misconduct.
Her arrest marks a significant moment for Uganda’s civil society landscape, raising concerns about freedom of expression, civic space, and the treatment of human rights defenders ahead of a pivotal national election.
