Uganda Jails TikToker For Mocking President Museveni
A 21-year-old Ugandan TikTok celebrity was sentenced to prison on Monday after posting a controversial video insulting President Yoweri Museveni.
According to Ugandan newspapers, Emmanuel Nabugodi, who is known for posting funny stuff with his 20,000 followers, appeared in court for punishment after pleading guilty to a variety of offenses.
This includes propagating hate speech and circulating inaccurate information about the president.
Nabugodi was sentenced to 32 months in prison by Chief Magistrate Stellah Maris Amabilis of Entebbe on Monday after being found guilty.
A 27-year-old second-hand shoe hawker, Mr Juma Musuuza, alias Madubarah has become the fifth Ugandan TikToker to be remanded to prison in less than a week for allegedly demeaning the First Family.
— Daily Monitor (@DailyMonitor) November 18, 2024
Madubarah is accused of saying “If Museveni hands over power to his drunkard son,… pic.twitter.com/gvlDHSOVmV
The charges originated from a video in which he staged a pretend trial for the president and advocated for Museveni’s public whipping.
Rights groups have chastised Uganda’s government for restricting free expression.
They noted Museveni’s lengthy presidency, which has been in place since 1986, as a major factor in an environment of fear surrounding government criticism.
This case follows several previous high-profile prosecutions involving social media content.
Another Ugandan, Edward Awebwa, was sentenced to six years in prison in July for similar charges relating to a TikTok post, while three others are still awaiting trial over content published on the platform.
Uganda tiktoker sentenced to 6years in prison yesterday for abusing president museveni and his family.. pic.twitter.com/tWyVqyQOCv
— Jayxx text (@MugalulaJeremy) July 11, 2024
Magistrate Amabilis expressed worry at the sentencing hearing because Nabugodi showed no remorse for his acts.
She added that the verdict would inhibit the use of social media to attack anyone, including the president.
“This court hopes that by the time the convict leaves prison, he would have learnt that abusing people in the name of getting content is bad,” she remarked.
Nabugodi was convicted under the revised Computer Misuse Act, which was passed in 2022.
The legislation prohibits the distribution of content that is designed to mock or humiliate another person, group, or entity.
Critics argue that the law is regularly used to stifle government critics and quell online dissent.
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The US State Department’s 2023 human rights report emphasized the use of the Computer Misuse Act to coerce internet users who oppose government policy.
The case adds to a growing list of human rights issues in Uganda, where free expression remains under assault.
In 2022, famed Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was accused of “offensive communication” after making negative comments about President Museveni and his son on social media platforms.
Rukirabashaija was forced to depart the nation after a month in prison, where he claims he was mistreated.
Uganda Jails TikToker For Mocking President Museveni
