Uganda Detains Activists Ahead of Polls

S 1 - 2 D I ID RK RT C - 0

Ugandan authorities have detained civil society activists, including lawyer Sarah Bireete, ahead of the January 15, 2026, general elections. Bireete was denied bail until after the polls, prompting concerns about the state of democratic space, freedom of speech, and political accountability under President Yoweri Museveni. Observers note that these arrests could affect civil society operations and raise questions about the environment for political engagement and governance in Uganda during the election period.