Human rights lawyer and activist Dr Sarah Bireete has been granted bail by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court, ending weeks of pre-trial detention that had drawn sharp scrutiny from legal practitioners and civil society groups in Uganda and beyond.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, the court set cash bail at Shs1 million and directed Bireete to present three non-cash sureties, each bonded at Shs10 million. As part of the bail conditions, the magistrate further ordered Bireete to deposit her passport with the court, citing the need to ensure her availability for trial.
The case has been adjourned to February 27, 2026, when it will return to court for further mention.
Background to the Case
Dr Bireete, the Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), was arrested on December 30, 2025, following security operations at her residence in Kampala.
She was later charged under Sections 35(1) and (2) of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, with prosecutors alleging that she unlawfully obtained and disclosed voters’ registration data without authorisation from the Electoral Commission.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed in various parts of the country, including Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts, over the course of 2025. Bireete has denied all charges and pleaded not guilty.
Bail Proceedings
Bireete’s bail application had faced resistance from the prosecution, which argued that her sureties were inadequate and raised concerns over the seriousness of the offences. However, the court rejected those submissions, ruling that the accused met the legal threshold for bail in a bailable offence.
In granting bail, the magistrate emphasised that pre-trial detention should not be punitive and reaffirmed the constitutional principle that an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Several prominent figures appeared in court as sureties, reflecting the high public interest surrounding the matter.
Public and Civil Society Reaction
Bireete’s detention had triggered strong reactions from lawyers, human rights defenders and civil society organisations, who described the charges as contentious and warned that prolonged detention in a bailable matter risked undermining due process.
Local and regional rights bodies had repeatedly called for her release, arguing that the case raised broader concerns about civic space, data governance, and the treatment of human rights defenders, particularly during a politically sensitive period.
What Next
With bail granted, Dr Bireete is expected to comply strictly with the court’s conditions as she awaits the next hearing.
The prosecution has indicated that investigations are ongoing, while the defence maintains that the charges are unfounded and will be challenged in court.
