The Board of Directors of the Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG) has criticized the prolonged detention of their Executive Director, Sarah Bireete, calling it a violation of her constitutional rights.
Bireete was arrested on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at her Ntinda residence and has been held at Nateete Police Station in Kampala since. Police confirmed her arrest but did not disclose any charges.
Speaking at CCG’s Ntinda headquarters, Board Chair Godber Tumushabe said that as of January 2, over 48 hours had passed without Bireete being produced in court, a breach of Article 23(3) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to be informed of reasons for arrest and access to a lawyer.
Tumushabe noted that Bireete, a well-known human rights and pro-democracy activist, has a fixed residence and a record of responding to police summons, making her detention arbitrary.
The Board also alleged that police searched her home without a warrant, confiscating property, including the phones of her teenage children, causing them trauma.
Lawyer Andrew Karamagi added that attempts to secure her release have been ignored, and no formal charges have been filed.
The Board pledged support for Bireete and urged the government to respect freedom of speech, allowing civil society voices to continue advocating for justice without fear.
By Ben Musanje
02nd Jan 2026
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