Sarah Bireete
Sarah Bireete | |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Uganda |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Organization | Center for Constitutional Governance |
| Known for | Human rights activism |
| Television | UBC Behind The Headlines |
| Criminal status | Acquitted |
Sarah Bireete is a Ugandan lawyer, human rights defender and political activist who is the founding partner and Executive Director for Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG), a non-governmental organization (NGO), and also serves as Chairperson for the East and Horn of Africa Elections Observers Network.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Career
Bireete is currently the Executive Director for Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG). She was its deputy executive director between 2011 and 2019. Bireete serves as Chairperson for the East and Horn of Africa Elections Observers Network. She served as a National Coordinator for the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region under the ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prior to 2011, she worked as a public defender at the Public Defenders Association of Uganda. She is a human rights activist, lawyer and partner at Dickens Kamugisha and Co. Advocates in Kampala, Uganda. She is a panelist on the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) political show called UBC Behind The Headlines and also Civic Space TV on Chat Show UG.[1][3][6]
She is a member of several boards of organizations as well as governing committees of schools and student bodies. She chairs the national coalition on civic space in Uganda and she is a member for the international human rights defenders group known as Vuka Allies for Uganda. She has vast knowledge and understanding of governance issues especially in areas of constitutionalism, human rights, Civic Space, electoral democracy, land rights, research and advocacy, public interest litigation as well as conflict transformation.[1][3]
Controversies
Bireete was charged by the Anti-Corruption court with embezzlement and abuse of office in 2009 in her role as National Coordinator of the International Conference of the Great Lake Regions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The High Court Judge sentenced her to ten years' imprisonment. She appealed to the Court of Appeal.[7]
In 2016, the Court of Appeal acquitted her on the charge of abuse of office but maintained the conviction for embezzlement. Bireete then appealed this decision to the Supreme Court where they unanimously acquitted her of the embezzlement charge.[7] In a majority 4-to-1 decision, Supreme Court Justices Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, Eldad Mwangusya, Rubby Opio-Aweri and Paul Mugamba ruled that the prosecution case against her did not satisfy the burden of proof especially given that there was no evidence directly linking her to receipt of the said refund. They therefore unanimously acquitted her of the embezzlement charge.[8]
On 30 December 2025, Sarah Bireete was arrested and remanded to Luzira Prison on charges of unlawfully obtaining and disclosing National Voters' Register data.[9][10]
On 28 January 2025, Sarah Bireete was granted bail by the Chief Magistrate, Buganda Road Court after being remanded in Luzira Prison.[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "DR. BIREETE SARAH". Front Line Defenders. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "Sarah Bireete". Monitor. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ a b c "Sarah Bireete". E-HORN. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ Byemboijana, Muhamadi (18 February 2025). "Women Activists Demand Urgent Medical Care for Dr. Besigye as Health Deteriorates". SoftPower News. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ Zbona, Ana. "HRD Interview: Sarah Bireete, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG), Uganda". Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ a b Atukunda, Rogers (7 May 2022). "Dr Sarah Bireete Elected Chairperson of East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network". SoftPower News. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Dr. Sarah Bireete on Fighting For Democracy in Uganda". Mwanzo TV. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ Reporter, NELSON MANDELA | PML Daily (12 May 2020). "Supreme Court acquits ex-Foreign Affairs official Bireete - PML Daily". Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Detention of Dr. Bireete Puts Uganda's 2026 Election Credibility in Focus – Parliament Watch". parliamentwatch.ug. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Fanon App for Knowing Your Polling Station in Uganda: Founder Were Salim Arrested - Nymy Net". 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ Independent, The (28 January 2026). "Sarah Bireete granted bail". The Independent Uganda. Retrieved 29 January 2026.