By Ben Musanje
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has revealed what its leadership described as troubling experiences while attempting to access the Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), Sarah Bireete, during her detention at Nateete Police Station.
Speaking at a CCG Board of Directors press conference held in Ntinda on Friday, ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe told journalists that the lawyers encountered what he termed a “rotten system” within the Uganda Police Force. He said ULS members were denied access to Bireete, an action he described as a clear violation of the law.
Asiimwe explained that members of ULS, together with Bireete’s legal team, went to Nateete Police Station to establish the reasons for her arrest and to explore avenues for securing her release. However, their efforts were futile as police prevented them from seeing her.
He further stated that when they attempted to negotiate for a police bond, officers informed them that Bireete’s case file had not yet been prepared. Asiimwe described the situation as indicative of a complete breakdown in the system, marked by disregard and disrespect for the rule of law.
The soft-spoken lawyer emphasized that it is unlawful to detain a suspect for more than 48 hours without producing them before a court of law.
Bireete was arrested on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, from her residence in Mukono District and later transferred to Nateete Police Station. At the time of her arrest, no offence was disclosed to her.
Later on Friday, Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court entered a plea of not guilty for the prominent human rights lawyer and remanded her to Luzira Prison until January 21, 2026, after prosecutors indicated that investigations were still ongoing.
Bireete appeared before the court presided over by Grade One Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatikko, who read to her a charge of unlawful obtaining or disclosure of personal data.
According to the charge sheet, Bireete, a 49-year-old lawyer and resident of Kiwango-Namwezi Village, Bukerere Parish, Goma Sub-county in Mukono District, is accused of unlawfully obtaining or disclosing personal data contrary to Sections 35 (1) and (2) of the Data Protection and Privacy Act.
Prosecutors allege that between January and December 2025, Bireete and others still at large unlawfully obtained or disclosed information from the National Voters’ Register without the consent of the Electoral Commission. The alleged offences are said to have occurred in Kampala, Mukono, and Wakiso districts.
The charges follow a recent public warning by the Electoral Commission cautioning political actors, civil society organizations, and members of the public against publishing voters’ photographs or personal details on social media. The commission advised that any complaints regarding the National Voters’ Register should instead be submitted directly to the Electoral Commission to avoid violating privacy laws. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
