This morning, she was in the dock at the Buganda Road Court.

While she was composed, with dignity and holding her head high, she was seemingly incredulous about what is happening to her. A smile cracks through her lips as she reads the charge sheet.

The offence she is alleged to have committed.

Section of Uganda Data Protection and Privacy Act, the law under which she is charged.

Shortly before, her lawyers had prayed for an adjournment of court proceedings, in order to go online, access and download her charge sheet. Before Court responded, The Prosecutor, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, provided them with a hard copy.

Right there in Court, as the hearing of her case was already in session, her lawyers became aware of the offence she is accused of having committed. Once both the accused and her lawyers had read the charge sheet, she was formally charged.

Court read out the charges and confirmed from her that she understood them. She pleaded not guilty. A few minutes later, Prosecution prayed for an adjournment to a much later date, on grounds “investigations are still ongoing.”

Her lawyers pray for and Court grants a 30-minutes adjournment of proceedings to allow for the bail application on her behalf to be formally uploaded online the Court system.

Subsequently, when proceedings resume, as did the Police deny her the option of a Police Bond as investigations are conducted, Court declined to rule on her bail and remands her incarcerated in prison until 21st January 2026. Court justified its decision to defer its ruling on the bail application on grounds that:

“Prosecution deserves the right to make a reply to the bail application, this being a case that has been brought to Court by them.”

While in Police Custody, she received a visit from the Vice President of the national bar, the Uganda Law Society, Anthony Asiimwe.

On 30th December 2025, she was taken from her home by officers of the Uganda Police Force, who confirmed holding her in custody. Four days later, today, 2nd January 2026, she was produced in Court and formally charged.

Dr. Sarah Bireete identifies as a “lawyer, a human rights defender, currently the Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Governance, a nonprofit organisation; and the Chairperson of East Horn Election Observers Network; among other illustrious positions she holds.

CLICK HERE to read more about Dr. Bireete

By the way, the next Uganda national election – Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government elections, are scheduled to take place on 15th January 2026.

By Norah Owaraga. Find more of her writing on her blog, The Humanist.