Human rights lawyer and civil society leader Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), has been formally charged in Buganda Road Magistrates’ Court with unlawfully obtaining and disclosing personal voter information, according to official court filings and police reports.
Bireete appeared before the court on Friday, January 2, 2026, where prosecutors presented a charge sheet alleging that, between January and December 2025, she and others still at large accessed or shared National Voters’ Register data without the consent of the Electoral Commission (EC). The conduct is said to have taken place in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso districts.
The charge, filed under Sections 35 (1) and (2) of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, relates to the handling of personal electoral information which is legally protected.
During the court session, Bireete denied the allegations when the accusations were read to her by the presiding magistrate.
Authorities say the information at issue falls under the Electoral Commission’s control and that any access or disclosure “without the commission’s consent” may violate Uganda’s data protection laws.
Bireete, a lawyer and election observer, was arrested at her home in Kampala on December 30, 2025, by Kampala Metropolitan Police. The arrest followed increased scrutiny of her public activities and election monitoring efforts ahead of Uganda’s general elections scheduled for January 15, 2026.
Her ongoing detention and pending court proceedings have drawn attention from civil society and human rights groups who underscore the importance of legal safeguards and procedural fairness.
Bireete is known for her work as a constitutional lawyer and as chairperson of several regional and international observer networks.
The Electoral Commission has separately cautioned members of the public and civil society against sharing personal voter information on unauthorized platforms, emphasizing that publishing personal data without consent may violate privacy laws.
Bireete’s legal team has confirmed that they will challenge the allegations and are expected to address bail and procedural matters at her next court appearance, which has been scheduled by the Buganda Road Court.
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