Ugandan authorities have arrested Sarah Bireete, a prominent human rights advocate, ahead of the January 15 general election. The police had not publicly detailed the reasons for the arrest. However, multiple sources familiar with the investigations said authorities were considering charges related to hate speech, although this had not been formally confirmed by police by press time.

Bireete recently criticised restrictions on StarLink internet imports and encouraged citizens to bypass them, raising concerns amid preparations for the January 2026 national elections. Her arrest has sparked debate over civil liberties, security forces’ involvement in politics, and the monitoring of electoral processes in Uganda.

National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has condemned the arrest of Bireete, accusing security agencies of targeting government critics ahead of the 2026 general elections.