By KT Reporter
The Uganda Women’s Movement (UWM) has condemned the arrest and continued detention of prominent human rights defender Sarah Bireete, describing it as unconstitutional and emblematic of a broader crackdown on civic space as Uganda heads into the January 15, 2026, general elections, now just two weeks away.
In a statement issued on January 1, 2026, UWM warned that Dr Bireete’s detention reflects a worrying trend of arbitrary arrests in an increasingly tense political climate, where opposition figures, activists, and government critics face heightened state pressure. The organisation said such actions threaten constitutionalism and disproportionately target women leaders at a critical moment in the country’s democratic cycle.
Bireete, the Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG) and chairperson of both the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM) and the East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network (E-HORN), was arrested on December 30, 2025, and detained at Nateete Police Station in Kampala. Police confirmed she is in custody, but have never disclosed any charges against her.
Instead, Kampala Metropolitan Area spokesperson Rachel Kawaala said that investigations were ongoing. By January 1, more than 48 hours after her arrest, Dr Bireete had neither been charged nor produced before a court of law, prompting accusations that her detention was unlawful.
UWM cited Article 23 of Uganda’s 1995 Constitution, which guarantees personal liberty and requires that an arrested person be informed of the reasons for arrest and presented before a competent court within 48 hours. The women’s rights coalition warned that prolonged detention without charge undermines the rule of law and erodes public trust in state institutions.
It further argued that such practices normalise fear, silence legitimate civic voices, and weaken equality before the law, particularly dangerous in an election period. UWM also raised alarm over what it termed the deliberate targeting of women leaders and human rights defenders, saying this creates a chilling effect that discourages women’s participation in governance and political processes.
According to the group, such actions risk rolling back hard-won gains in women’s rights and weakening democratic governance at a critical national juncture. A lawyer and well-known advocate for good governance, Dr Bireete has been a regular voice in Ugandan media debates on constitutionalism, electoral integrity, and democratic accountability. Her leadership of GNDEM, an international network that supports domestic election observation worldwide, has drawn international attention to her arrest.
On December 31, 2025, GNDEM issued a statement expressing serious concern, warning that her detention undermines the ability of nonpartisan citizen observers to carry out their work ahead of the polls and sends a troubling signal about the state of electoral freedoms in Uganda.
Public reaction has been swift, with social media platforms awash with calls for her release. Opposition figures, activists, and ordinary citizens have rallied around the hashtag #FreeSarahBireete.
Among them was Shamim Nambassa, who warned that the arrest sets a dangerous precedent for all dissenting voices. Meanwhile, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has confirmed that Dr Bireete remains in custody.
The Commission, chaired by Mariam Wangadya, visited Nateete Police Station and reported that Dr Bireete has been granted access to her lawyers and has recorded a statement with the police.
UHRC said it has engaged the relevant authorities to ensure that any charges are preferred promptly and in full compliance with due process, adding that it will continue to monitor the matter closely.
As Uganda enters the final stretch before the polls, civil society groups warn that how authorities handle cases like Dr Bireete’s will be a key test of the country’s commitment to constitutionalism, human rights, and credible elections.
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