Two Ugandans have been detained for allegedly insulting President Yoweri Museveni, first woman Janet Museveni and the president’s son, Normal Muhuzi Kenerugaba, on the video-sharing platform TikTok.
Choose Stella Maris Amabilis remanded David Ssengozi, 21, also called Fortunate Alternative, and Isaiah Ssekagiri, 28, to Kego Jail till their first court docket look on Wednesday.
They’re accused of creating hate speech and spreading malicious messages in opposition to the First Household and musicians linked to the ruling Nationwide Resistance Motion (NRM).
The pair appeared in court docket on Monday and denied the costs.
They have been charged alongside 19-year-old Julius Tayebwa, who had been taken to court docket and remanded in jail for a similar offence.
Prosecutors stated they posted messages on TikTok supposed to “ridicule, disparage, disparage and incite hostility in opposition to the primary household and others.”
Magistrates allowed their detention after police stated they have been nonetheless investigating the matter.
“You’ll return on November 13, when the case will likely be filed. Till then you’ll be remanded in Kigo jail,” the choose ordered.
In September, police spokesman Rusoke Kituuma warned that it was a criminal offense to insult the president, whom he referred to as the “fountain of honour”. He talked about a Tiktoker referred to as Fortunate Alternative and stated they have been investigating the corporate. The Tiktoker was later arrested.
It is unclear which put up led to the arrest, however a video posted to TikTok’s LuckyChoice70 web page in April, titled “My First Enemy,” criticized the primary household’s use of sexually express phrases.
In July, a 24-year-old man was sentenced to 6 years in jail for insulting the president and the primary household in a TikTok video. He has pleaded responsible and requested for forgiveness.
On the similar time, the federal government has been criticized for limiting individuals’s capacity to criticize the actions of the state or its officers.
A U.S. authorities report final yr accused Uganda of proscribing on-line freedoms via prison penalties.
Human rights teams additionally continuously accuse Ugandan authorities of violating human rights and freedom of expression.
In 2022, award-winning Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was charged with two counts of “offensive speech” after posting disrespectful remarks in regards to the president and his son on Twitter.
He spent a month in jail earlier than fleeing to Germany, the place he stated he was tortured.
