Uganda Police have arrested renowned human rights activist and lawyer Dr. Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), in what has become one of the most high-profile civil society detentions in recent months.

Police first cordoned off Dr. Bireete’s residence, before taking her into custody on Tuesday afternoon. Authorities have not yet confirmed the charges she will face, and investigations are reportedly ongoing. According to the Kampala Metropolitan Police, investigators are still compiling the case file and intend to produce her in court once the investigation is concluded.

Dr. Bireete, who also heads the East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network (EHORN) and chairs the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM), has long been a vocal advocate for democratic governance, constitutionalism and electoral integrity in Uganda. Her organisation, CCG, has been deeply involved in monitoring the ongoing 2026 electoral process, including citizen mobilisation and assessments of the political environment.

The activist alerted the public to the situation in real time via her verified X (formerly Twitter) account, posting that her home was “under siege by Police and Army”, a message that was later confirmed by close associates.

Dr. Bireete’s work has frequently placed her at the centre of debates over civil liberties and the role of security forces in political processes. Civil society actors and legal experts are closely watching developments, raising concerns about the implications of her arrest for civic space and human rights ahead of the January 15 national elections.

Her history of activism stretches back years, with CCG engaging on issues ranging from rule of law and constitutional governance to electoral observation and civic education. She has previously highlighted concerns over militarisation of election processes and efforts she described as attempts to limit the space for civil society engagement.

As of now, the police have not publicly stated what Dr. Bireete will be charged with, but have confirmed that they are preparing a case file and will forward it to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice before any charges are formally filed.