Sarah Bireete remanded as Museveni, Kyagulanyi intensify campaigns

3 January 2026, 11:08 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

Grade One Magistrate of Buganda Road Court, Winnie Nankya, on Wednesday remanded human rights defender Sarah Bireete to Luzira Prison until 21 January 2026.

According to the charge sheet, Bireete and others still at large allegedly, between January and December 2025, at various locations in Uganda including Mukono and Wakiso districts, unlawfully obtained or disclosed National Voters’ information controlled or processed by the Electoral Commission without the commission’s consent.

The remand was strongly condemned by Bireete’s lawyer, Jude Byamukama, and the Deputy President of the Uganda Law Society, Anthony Asiimwe, who described the charges as an attack on civic space and human rights advocacy.

Meanwhile, as polling day approaches on 15 January 2026, presidential candidates continued their nationwide campaigns to mobilise voters.

The NRM presidential flag bearer, Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Museveni, accompanied by his wife, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, and other party leaders, held campaign rallies in Kayunga and Mukono districts.

Addressing residents in Kayunga, Museveni warned against land grabbing, describing it as illegal and often driven by ignorance of the law. He emphasised that sitting tenants are protected by law and should not be forcefully evicted.

“You have no right to evict sitting tenants from land,” Museveni said, urging NRM leaders to sensitise communities on land rights and resolve disputes peacefully. He added that land matters were exhaustively addressed during the Constituent Assembly and that tenants’ rights remain constitutionally protected.

Speaking during the campaign launch in the Greater Mukono region, Museveni encouraged residents to embrace the Parish Development Model as a pathway to wealth creation and job growth. He also highlighted job creation through commercial agriculture, irrigation, skills training and industrialisation, and urged communities to identify land for the establishment of industrial parks.

Responding to concerns raised by the Bakuku community over alleged denial of passports, Museveni clarified that citizenship by birth, registration or naturalisation is a constitutional right, stressing that no eligible Ugandan should be denied services due to unnecessary bureaucracy.

In Mukono District, Museveni promised to address complaints against leaders accused of denying residents access to Parish Development Model funds. Hon. Janet Museveni, in her remarks, urged voters to support and vote for the National Resistance Movement party.

Elsewhere, during a campaign rally in Mbale City, the National Unity Platform presidential flag bearer Robert Kyagulanyi claimed there was a plot to arrest him before polling day. The allegation was, however, denied by the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who stated that there were no plans to apprehend Kyagulanyi unless he violated the law.

“I have learnt from security circles of a plot to have me arrested before polling day in order to create a pre-emptive massacre similar to what happened in November 2020,” Kyagulanyi said, urging his supporters to remain peaceful and nonviolent. He also appealed to residents of Mbale to vote for him.