"Stop Spying on Us" Lawyer Sarah Bireete Warns Govt of Phone Surveillance After Leaked Audio

Ugandan human rights lawyer and activist Sarah Bireete has accused the government of illegally tapping phone calls and leaking private conversations to the public.

She expressed her concerns on her X account, calling the alleged surveillance “excessive impunity” and demanding that President Yoweri Museveni address the matter.

Bireete’s statement follows the release of a leaked audio recording allegedly involving Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and journalist Ivan Okuda.

In the recording, the two discuss a past exchange between Ssemujju and veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda on NBS TV’s Frontline program.

During their conversation, Ssemujju criticized Mwenda’s political stance, accusing him of presenting himself as an independent journalist while working closely with the government.

He further alleged that Mwenda had previously bragged about helping to secure Kampala during elections by raising funds from business figures and participating in security operations, including those linked to kidnappings.

Okuda responded by saying that he had heard similar claims from other sources.

The two also noted that Mwenda often shares privileged information to showcase his influence, something they believed had worked against him during their debate on Frontline.

Beyond their discussion of Mwenda, Ssemujju also condemned what he described as selective law enforcement.

He pointed out that some opposition supporters had been arrested and jailed for wearing red berets—a symbol associated with the People Power movement—while figures like Mwenda had appeared in military attire without facing any consequences.

He argued that such double standards only served to heighten political tensions.

The leaked audio has ignited fresh debate about government surveillance and privacy rights in Uganda.

Many citizens are now questioning how private conversations are being accessed and made public.

Critics argue that if the government is indeed monitoring phone calls without legal authorization, it constitutes a serious violation of human rights and could be used as a tool to intimidate government critics.

Sarah Bireete’s remarks have added to growing concerns about shrinking civic space in Uganda.

Rights groups and opposition figures have long accused the state of employing cyber surveillance, phone tapping, and online harassment to suppress dissent.