Ugandan police have detained prominent human rights activist and lawyer Sarah Bireete, escalating concerns over a widening crackdown on dissent and political opposition ahead of the country’s January 15 general election.
Police confirmed Bireete’s arrest in a post on social media platform X on Tuesday, saying she was in custody and would be presented in court “in due course,” without disclosing the charges or the date of her arraignment.
Bireete is the Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG) and a frequent critic of the government on local television and radio. She has openly challenged state actions, including what opposition groups describe as illegal detentions and the torture of their supporters.
Efforts to reach the CCG for comment were unsuccessful.
The arrest comes as President Yoweri Museveni, 81, seeks another term after nearly four decades in power, facing off against opposition leader Bobi Wine, 43, a former pop star turned politician and head of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Wine and his party allege that hundreds of their members have been arrested this year, particularly during the campaign period, in what they say is a deliberate attempt to intimidate supporters and weaken opposition morale.
International concern has also mounted. Last month, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned of an “intensifying crackdown” in Uganda, stating that at least 550 NUP supporters had been detained this year.
Another leading opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, remains behind bars more than a year after his arrest on treason charges, a case that continues to draw criticism from rights groups.
Bobi Wine himself has accused security forces of brutality, saying he was beaten while campaigning in northern Uganda. Although police pledged to investigate the alleged assault, no official report has been released.
As Uganda heads into a high-stakes election, the detention of Sarah Bireete is likely to heighten tensions and renew scrutiny of the government’s human rights record, both domestically and internationally.
About The Author
