By Eye Media Uganda | December 30, 2025
The Uganda Police Force has confirmed the arrest of Sarah Bireete, the Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, saying she is currently in police custody and will be arraigned before court in due course.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala, in an interview with The Eye Media, confirmed the arrest on Tuesday evening but said police would issue further details, including the place of detention, at an appropriate time.
“She is in police custody. More details will be communicated later,” Kawala said.
Prior to her arrest, Bireete made a series of social media posts in which she alleged that security personnel had surrounded her residence. In one of her final posts, she claimed that her house was “under siege by Police and Army,” while another post referenced Natete Police.
The posts, which quickly circulated online, were not accompanied by any official confirmation at the time and were later followed by the Uganda Police Force’s formal statement confirming her arrest. Police have since cautioned the public against treating preliminary social media claims as factual, stressing that official communication should be relied upon for accurate information.
Bireete has also previously used social media to make politically charged statements, including commentary on Uganda’s leadership and governance, views that have attracted both support and criticism over the years.
Police have not yet disclosed the specific charges against her but emphasized that investigations are ongoing and that due process will be followed in line with the law.
Security analysts note that while freedom of expression is guaranteed, it operates within clear legal boundaries, and all citizens—regardless of status, profession or activism—remain subject to the laws governing public order and national security.
Bireete’s civil society work has for years been carried out under the peace and stability ushered in by the NRM government, an environment that has enabled civic organisations, political actors and the media to operate countrywide. Authorities maintain that such freedoms do not exempt individuals from accountability where the law is concerned.
Police have urged the public to remain calm, avoid speculation and await official communication as investigations progress.
The Eye Media Uganda will continue to follow the matter and publish verified updates as more details are released.
