A state prosecutor in Uganda has confirmed the conviction of 21-year-old TikTok content creator Emmanuel Nabugodi, who recently called for the public flogging of President Yoweri Museveni.
Museveni has been in power since 1986 and is known for his tight control of the country and for positioning his family members in key positions.
Nabugodi, who made the controversial statement on TikTok, pleaded guilty to charges of hate speech against the Ugandan head of state.
As a result, he faces a seven-year prison sentence, which will commence on November 18, after his detention at the Kigo maximum security prison near Kampala.
Nabugodi’s case underscores Uganda’s strict stance on any criticism of President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986 after overthrowing then-president Milton Obote.
The conviction of Nabugodi marks the fourth arrest, within two days, of Ugandans accused of insulting the president and his family.
According to reports from France 24, two other prominent TikTok influencers were also detained this week on similar charges.
These individuals allegedly insulted not only President Museveni but also First Lady Janet Museveni, their son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and several key members of the ruling party.
They are scheduled to face trial on November 28, 2024.
A Pattern of Crackdown
This incident follows a pattern in Uganda of clamping down on dissent, especially through online platforms.
In a similar case in July, another 21-year-old TikToker received a six-year prison sentence for publicly insulting Museveni.
These arrests illustrate the extent to which the Ugandan government monitors social media, taking swift action against those who publicly criticize the regime or its leaders.
Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, an award-winning author and recipient of the PEN Pinter Prize for an International Writer of Courage, faced arrest and torture in 2021 for allegedly insulting Museveni and his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, whom many Ugandans suspect is being positioned to succeed his father.
Rukirabashaija fled to Germany, seeking asylum after his release.
These cases show that Uganda ranks 128 out of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, revealing a restrictive environment for freedom of speech and media expression.
In 2020, authorities jailed four members of a Ugandan comedy troupe for releasing a satirical video, showcasing the government’s intolerance for criticism.
Public outcry eventually led to their release, but the initial crackdown underscores Uganda’s highly controlled and repressive stance toward free speech and online expression.
