Ugandan Activist Bireete Arrested Ahead of Elections

The executive director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), Sarah Bireete, was arrested on Tuesday ahead of Uganda’s election. A Ugandan election monitoring group has condemned the arrest of its leader, describing it as part of an escalating crackdown on civil society just two weeks before the country’s general elections.

Uganda will go to the polls on January 15, with long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, 81, seeking to extend his four-decade rule.

Shortly before her detention, Bireete posted on X( formerly Twitter) that security forces had surrounded her home.

“My house is under siege by Police and Army,” she posted. 

Police later confirmed the arrest in a post on X(formerly Twitter), but the CCG said she had not been charged with any offence.

In a statement, the organisation said it believed the purpose of the arrest was to silence one of the country’s most prominent advocates for government accountability, noting that civil society leaders are routinely targeted during election periods.

Bireete, a prominent lawyer who also chairs the East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network, has been a vocal critic of what she describes as Uganda’s growing authoritarianism.

Opposition leader Bobi Wine accused the government of using intimidation against dissenting voices, alleging that arrests, abductions and torture of activists, journalists and rights defenders tend to intensify during election cycles.

“Every election cycle, the regime targets civil society leaders, journalists, and human rights activists with arrests, abductions, torture,” said Wine, on X(formerly Twitter).

Concerns have also been raised about potential restrictions on digital communication. 

Rights groups fear authorities may shut down the internet during the polls, as occurred in the 2021 elections. 

Last week, the government banned the importation of Starlink equipment and similar satellite communication devices.

The developments come amid broader concerns about democratic backsliding in the region.

In neighbouring Tanzania, security forces reportedly killed thousands during and after elections held in October, in which major opposition candidates were disqualified.