The following is based on a communication sent by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and other UN experts to the Government of Uganda on 16 January 2026. The communication remained confidential for 60 days before being made public, giving the Government time to reply. The Government replied on 10 March 2026.
Since the communication was sent, Sarah Bireete was released on bail on 28 January 2026 with restrictions, including the confiscation of her passport, meaning she cannot leave Uganda without court permission. Her phone, which had been confiscated during her arrest, was never handed back to her.
This is a shorter version of the original communication.
BACKGROUND
Topic: the arrest of Ms. Sarah Bireete on 30 December 2025 in the Mukono District, and her arbitrary detention in Kampala.
Ms. Sarah Bireete is a Ugandan lawyer and human rights defender who is active in constitutional advocacy, civic education, and election monitoring. She is the Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), which promotes accountability, the rule of law, and citizen participation. She also chairs the East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network (EHORN) and the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM).
Special Procedures mandate holders have expressed their concerns regarding human rights violations against individuals and civil society actors in Uganda on the basis of electoral advocacy and perceived support or affiliation with the political opposition in several communications, including UGA 6/2025; UGA 5/2025; UGA 2/2025; UGA 6/2022; UGA 4/2021; UGA 3/2021; UGA 1/2021; UGA 5/2020; UGA 4/2020; UGA 3/2020; UGA 3/2019. We regret that we have not received a reply from the Ugandan government to any of these communications.
ALLEGATIONS
In the months leading up to the general elections on 15 January 2026, Ms. Bireete has been advocating for greater transparency and accountability in the electoral processes including criticism on the government’s restrictions on the importation and use of Starlink equipment as well as limitations on the use of Uganda’s national flag during electoral activities.
On 30 December 2025, at approximately 3:00 PM, police officers and security forces in civilian clothing arrested Ms. Bireete at her home in Mukono District without being informed of the reason(s) for her arrest. She was then transported to Nateete Police Station in Kampala. The Uganda Police Force reported the arrest the same day, stating she was detained for ongoing investigations and would be brought to court once the case file was complete.
On 31 December 2025, the Uganda Human Rights Commission visited Ms. Bireete in detention and reported that she had access to family members and legal counsel.
On 2 January 2026, Ms. Bireete was brought before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kampala and formally charged with the offence of “unlawful obtaining or disclosing of personal data” under section 35(1) and (2) of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, Cap. 97. According to the stated charges, between January and December 2025, she and unidentified others “unlawfully obtained or disclosed National Voters’ Information” controlled by the Electoral Commission without its consent, in various locations including Kampala, Mukono, and Wakiso Districts. The law provides for penalties of up to ten years’ imprisonment or a fine. Ms. Bireete denied the charges. During the hearing, the Court denied her bail application and ordered her to be remanded until 21 January 2026 to allow further investigations. She remains in detention at Luzira Upper Prison Women’s section pending the next court appearance.
The arrest and charging of Ms. Bireete occur within an environment of heightened political tensions and reports of human rights violations, including enforced disappearance, the disproportionate use of force against opposition supporters, and the suppression of civil society, ahead of the general elections on 15 January 2026.
Ms. Bireete’s case unfolded alongside the suspension of civil society organisations and a nationwide internet shutdown shortly before the elections. On 9 January 2026, authorities in Uganda suspended several civil society organisations, ordering them to stop all activities with immediate effect, including the Centre for Constitutional Governance. Police were directed to ensure that the orders were followed while the authorities carried out further inquiries. On 13 January 2026, the Uganda Communications Commission shut down internet access nationwide, with no fixed date for restoration. The shutdown cut off social media, email services, messaging platforms, and general internet browsing, limiting access to information two days before the beginning of the elections.
CONCERNS
In the communication, we express our concern over the reported arrest and detention of Ms. Bireete, which appears to be directly connected to her human rights work and exercise of her right to freedom of expression. We fear that these actions constitute an arbitrary measure by the authorities to silence a human rights defender that advocates for fair, transparent, and independent elections in Uganda. If confirmed, the arrest and detention of Ms. Bireete constitute a violation of Art.9(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as she was arrested without being informed of the reason(s) for her arrest on 30 Dec 2025 and was not promptly informed of any charge(s) against her until being arraigned to court on 2 January 2026.
While the Ugandan authorities frame the case as a matter of data protection compliance, the timing and Ms. Bireete’s prominent role in electoral advocacy and election observation raise concerns about the possibility of political motivations behind her arrest and detention.
Ms. Bireete’s arrest and detention appear to be part of a broader trend of silencing critical voices and violations against human rights defenders engaged in election monitoring. Arresting and detaining Ms. Bireete not only prevents her from observing and documenting the general elections but also has a chilling effect on other human rights defenders and activists that are engaged in electoral advocacy.
