Dr Sarah Bireete
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The arrest of prominent human rights lawyer and civil society leader Dr Sarah Bireete is widely believed to be linked to a series of controversial remarks she has made about government in recent months, both on social media and during media appearances.
Ugandan police confirmed on Tuesday that Dr Bireete, the executive director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), was in custody and would be produced before court, although the specific charges against her had not been disclosed by press time. In a brief statement shared on its official social media platforms, the Uganda Police Force said she was being held lawfully and would be arraigned “in due course.”
Earlier in the day, Dr Bireete had taken to X (formerly Twitter) to report that her residence in Kampala had been surrounded by security personnel. “My house is under siege by Police and Army,” she wrote, sparking concern among activists and legal practitioners. Police later said she had been picked up from her home and taken to the Central Police Station in Kampala.
By late Tuesday evening, authorities had yet to announce any formal charges, and police did not respond to requests for further clarification regarding the grounds of her arrest.
Dr Bireete is a well-known constitutional lawyer, election observer and outspoken advocate for human rights and democratic governance. She is a regular commentator on television and radio talk shows, where she often critiques state actions, particularly the conduct of security agencies and their role in political processes.
In the lead-up to Uganda’s 2026 general elections, she has warned of what she describes as the increasing militarisation of civic and political space, arguing that such trends undermine constitutionalism and the rule of law. She has also publicly defended the use of the national flag during political campaigns, a position that has drawn sharp debate within political and security circles.
Her arrest triggered an immediate wave of reactions online, with fellow lawyers, civil society actors and opposition politicians questioning the timing of the detention and demanding her release. Some described the arrest as an attempt to silence dissenting voices ahead of a sensitive electoral period.
However, sources familiar with the matter say investigators are focusing on several statements Dr Bireete allegedly made that authorities consider provocative and potentially unlawful. The development has once again raised concerns among rights groups about freedom of expression and the shrinking space for critical voices in Uganda’s political landscape
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