A Ugandan court on Wednesday granted bail to prominent human rights activist Sarah Bireete, whose detention had drawn criticism from campaign groups as part of a broader crackdown on dissent ahead of the country’s January 15 general election.
Bireete leads the Centre for Constitutional Governance, a Kampala-based pressure group that has been vocal about transparency and electoral integrity. She was detained on December 30 after raising concerns about the accuracy of the voter register to be used in the national poll. Authorities subsequently charged her with offences related to the alleged unlawful disclosure of voters’ information.
Her detention had sparked condemnation from civil society and international rights organizations, which described it as an attempt to intimidate activists and limit scrutiny of the electoral process. Bireete’s release on bail comes amid ongoing tensions in Uganda following the tightly contested election and reports of arrests and intimidation of opposition figures and their supporters.
Observers note that the case underscores continuing challenges to civil liberties and freedom of expression in the East African nation, highlighting concerns over the impartiality of legal and political institutions in the lead-up to and aftermath of national elections.
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