Veteran women’s rights activist Miria Matembe has strongly criticised the handling of activist Dr Sarah Bireete’s case, saying the judiciary is being used to silence dissent ahead of Uganda’s upcoming elections.
“I stood there and looked at this girl [woman]; I wanted her to see my face, but she never opened her eyes to look at me. I don’t know what I would have done if she had looked at me,” Matembe said on Friday, taking aim at Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko.
She added, “Maybe I’d have been arrested in that court because I would have said, ‘You have no right to judge.’ Sarah Bireete was arrested to shut her down until after the elections.”
Bireete was remanded to Luzira Prison until January 21, 2026, after being charged with unlawful obtaining or disclosure of personal voters’ data. Her defence team criticised the court’s decision, describing it as unconstitutional.
“I have never seen anything like this. The state has been given a whopping 20 days to respond to a bail application. Our client has literally been sentenced to 20 days of imprisonment. It contravenes the Ugandan Constitution,” said Bireete’s lawyers on Friday.
The case has drawn widespread attention, highlighting ongoing tensions between civil society activists and authorities in the lead-up to the January 15 polls.
“It’s my first time regretting why I fought for the rights of women to be set free. The case against Sarah Bireete is not clear; there is no complainant,” said a frustrated Matembe.
