Sarah Bireete Granted Bail

The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to the executive director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance Dr Sarah Bireete after finding that she satisfied all the legal and constitutional requirements for her release from custody.

Dr Bireete has been on remand for over three weeks on charges of unlawfully obtaining or disclosing voters’ data belonging to the Electoral Commission an offence she denies. 

In her ruling , Grade One  Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko held that Bireete had a constitutional right to apply for bail and that court was satisfied she had met the conditions necessary for its grant.

The magistrate  has also considered the defence submission that Bireete is a mother of minor children who depend on her, invoking the welfare principle and the best interests of the children.

Addressing the prosecution’s objection to the financial capacity of the sureties, court rejected the argument that documentary proof of wealth was mandatory.

She found that the proposed sureties, described as public figures of good standing, were substantial and capable of compelling the accused to attend court.

Court accordingly granted Bireete bail on the following terms: she is to deposit cash bail of one million shillings,  onded each surety at  10 million shillings non-cash. Bireete must  also not leave the country without permission of court and  she must deposit her passport with court.

The case was fixed for hearing on February 27, and the prosecution was ordered to disclose all evidence to the defence before then.