By Spy Uganda
Civil society activist and lawyer Sarah Bireete has been charged with unlawfully obtaining and disclosing national voters’ data without the authorisation of the Electoral Commission (EC), as authorities intensify scrutiny over the handling of voter information ahead of the 2026 General Elections.
Ms Bireete, 49, the Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, was on Friday produced before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court, where prosecutors formally preferred charges against her under the Data Protection and Privacy Act. The offence relates to the unlawful obtaining or disclosure of personal data, contrary to Sections 35 (1) and (2) of the Act.
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors allege that between January and December 2025, Bireete, together with others still at large, unlawfully obtained or disclosed national voters’ information without prior consent from the Electoral Commission. The alleged acts are said to have occurred at various locations across the country, including Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso districts. At her first appearance in court, Bireete denied the charges.
The prosecution told court that investigations into the matter are still ongoing and requested more time to complete inquiries. The magistrate stood over the matter to a later time in the day to address outstanding procedural issues before issuing further directions.
Bireete was arrested on December 30, 2025, and detained at Kampala Central Police Station. Her arrest followed a post she made on X (formerly Twitter), in which she claimed that armed security personnel had surrounded her residence, sparking public debate and concern among sections of civil society.
The court session drew the presence of several prominent political and civic figures, including National Unity Platform Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya and former Leader of the Opposition Winnie Kiiza, underscoring the public interest surrounding the case.
The charges come just days after the Electoral Commission issued a public warning against an unauthorised online platform, registry.ugtally.com, allegedly operated by an entity known as FANON. The Commission said the website falsely claimed to provide voter verification services for the 2026 elections.
In its statement, the EC reiterated that it holds the exclusive constitutional mandate to compile, manage and update the National Voters Register, cautioning that any unauthorised access, use or distribution of voter data constitutes a criminal offence. The Commission further advised members of the public to rely only on official EC channels for voter information.
The case adds to growing tensions around electoral integrity, data protection and the regulation of digital platforms as Uganda prepares for the 2026 polls.
