Renowned Ugandan human rights activist Sarah Bireete was on Friday arraigned before the Buganda Road Court and charged with unlawfully accessing and disseminating information related to the voters’ register without authorization from the Electoral Commission.
Bireete, who is the Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Governance and the Chairperson of the East and Horn Election Observers Network, was formally read the charges accusing her of illegally obtaining and sharing voter-related data, an act prosecutors say violates electoral laws.
The case was heard at the Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court, where she was informed of the offences she is alleged to have committed. Authorities say the information in question was accessed without the required clearance from the Electoral Commission.
Bireete,resident of Kiwango-Namwezi Village, Bukerere Parish, Goma Sub-county in Mukono District, was arrested at her home on December 30, 2025, by Kampala Metropolitan Police following heightened scrutiny of her election monitoring activities ahead of the January 15 general elections.
Bireete’s legal team has not yet publicly responded to the charges, and her next court appearance is expected to address bail and procedural matters
The matter has drawn public attention due to Bireete’s prominent role in governance, human rights advocacy, and election observation across the region. Further proceedings are expected as the court process continues
