Finally: Police Breaks Silence On Arrest Of Sarah Bireete

By Swift Reporter 

The Uganda Police Force has confirmed the arrest of prominent lawyer, human rights defender and election observer Dr. Sarah Bireete, who is currently detained at Central Police Station (CPS) in Kampala and will be arraigned before court in due course.

Dr. Bireete, the Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), was arrested on Tuesday afternoon after security personnel surrounded her residence in Kampala, an incident that quickly attracted public attention amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2026 general elections.

In a post on her verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Dr. Bireete alerted the public to the unfolding events, writing: “My house is under siege by Police and Army.” Shortly thereafter, close associates confirmed that she had been taken into custody.

In a statement later shared on social media, the Uganda Police Force said Dr. Bireete was in lawful custody and would be produced before court “in due course,” although the specific charges had not yet been disclosed by press time.

Dr. Bireete is a well-known figure in Uganda’s civil society and governance landscape. She is the founding partner and Executive Director of CCG, a Kampala-based organisation that focuses on constitutionalism, electoral integrity, rule of law, civic education and accountability. She also serves as Chairperson of the East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network (EHORN) and the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM).

Through these roles, Dr. Bireete has been actively involved in civil society monitoring of Uganda’s 2026 electoral process, including early assessments of the political environment, citizen mobilisation and advocacy around electoral integrity. She has frequently appeared on television and radio talk shows, where she has spoken on constitutional governance, civil liberties and the role of security agencies in political processes.

In recent months, she has been outspoken about what she describes as the increasing militarisation of civic space ahead of the elections and has also publicly defended the use of the national flag in political campaigns.

Her arrest has sparked widespread reaction online, with activists, lawyers and opposition figures questioning the timing of the detention and calling for transparency and due process. Others have urged authorities to respect constitutional safeguards as the country prepares for the next election cycle.

Dr. Bireete’s detention comes amid an ongoing national debate over civil liberties, the role of security agencies in domestic political affairs, and the broader environment in which the 2026 general elections will be conducted.