Rights activist Bireete returns to court for bail ruling

KAMPALA: The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court is today expected to rule on a bail application by jailed human rights activist Sarah Bireete.

The bail application was heard on January 22, 2026, by Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Winnie Nankya, but the ruling was deferred to today to allow the magistrate time to study submissions from both the prosecution and the defence.

Bireete, who is the Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, was on January 2nd charged and remanded to Luzira Prison.

She is accused of unlawfully obtaining and disclosing voters’ information without the consent of the Electoral Commission.

According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed between January and December 2025 in Kampala, Mukono, and Wakiso districts.

The charges are brought under Section 35 of the Data Protection and Privacy Act.

Bireete denies the charges and maintains her innocence.