Renowned human rights activists, Dr Sarah Bireete, was on Friday arraigned in Buganda Chief Magistrate’s court and charged with unlawful obtaining of electoral data without the consent of the Electoral Commission. Bireete’s trial came days after she had been incarcerated without trial.
She was remanded until January 21, 2026. This means she will not be able to participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections slated for January 15. Human rights activists have branded the arrest, trial and remand of Bireete as intended to cause fear among other government critics.
Miria Matembe one of the outspoken women and critics of government especially in areas of human rights violations, said the regime’s calculation will not scare them because they will continue speaking out. Every election cycle, not only politicians are arrested and incarcerated for criticizing the government, but also human rights activists.
In 2021, Nicholas Opio, one of the renowned critics of government human atrocities, was arrested over money laundering and later on charged. That was the time Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine emerged as the biggest challenger of Museveni rules which started in 1986.
Bireete’s arrest is somehow linked to the critic interview where she indicated that the Chief of Defence Forces -CDF Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, needs to in custody for violating human rights. At first, information indicated that Bireete was going to be charged with money laundering like Reve Fr Deusdidit Ssekabira.