Bireete was arrested last month after security forces, including police and military personnel, surrounded her home in the capital. The arrest came just days after she publicly encouraged Ugandans to explore alternative internet access options amid fears of possible nationwide internet shutdowns during the election period.
According to her legal team, the charges were presented shortly before her court appearance. Her lawyer, Mafabi Dathan, said Bireete has been charged under Section 35 of the Electoral Commission Act, which criminalises the publication of information without the approval of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.
He said the charge sheet did not specify what information Bireete is alleged to have published, nor did it provide further details supporting the accusation.
Rights groups and legal observers have increasingly warned that laws governing information and elections in Uganda are being applied in ways that restrict freedom of expression and political participation, particularly during election periods.
Bireete is a prominent advocate for human rights and digital freedoms, and her arrest has drawn criticism from activists who view the case as part of a broader pattern of pressure on civil society voices.
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
