Ugandan TikTok Star Sentenced Six Years for Insulting President Museveni

Ugandan TikTok content creator Edward Awebwa, 24, has been sentenced to six years in prison for posting content deemed insulting to President Yoweri Museveni and his family. The sentence has sparked a heated debate on freedom of speech and the power of social media in Uganda.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Photo source : Africa Intelligence

Awebwa, who operates the TikTok account "Save Media Uganda," was charged over videos posted between February and March 2024. These videos ridiculed President Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, and their son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces. The content also included claims of an impending tax increase linked to the President.

Last Friday, Awebwa pleaded guilty to hate speech and spreading misleading or malicious information. The Entebbe Chief Magistrate Court, presided over by Stellah-Maris Amabilisi, handed down the verdict on Wednesday. Amabilisi emphasized the seriousness of Awebwa's actions, stating:

“The accused is pleading for mercy but he does not look remorseful at all for his acts, he is a person who was aware of what he was doing and the court had an opportunity to even see the video, the language that was being used was really vulgar.”

The court ruled that Awebwa's punishment should serve as a lesson in respecting the country's leaders. Magistrate Amabilisi further remarked:

“This court is of the opinion that the accused deserves a punishment which will enable him to learn from his past so that next time he will respect the person of the president, the first lady, and first son.”

Awebwa received six years of imprisonment for each of the four counts, with the sentences to run concurrently at Kigo Upper Prison.

This ruling comes in the wake of the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, 2022, signed by President Museveni, which criminalizes the use of social media for offensive communication. The law states:

“A person who uses social media to publish, distribute or share information prohibited under the laws of Uganda, or using disguised or false identity, commits an offence.”

While the law aims to curb hate speech and protect individual privacy, it has faced significant opposition from rights groups and activists who argue it suppresses freedom of speech and press freedom. In January 2023, Uganda’s constitutional court ruled that section 25 of the Act was inconsistent with the country’s constitution and ordered a halt to its enforcement.

Awebwa's case is not isolated. In February, another TikTok creator, Ibrahim Musana, known online as "Pressure Pressure," was arrested for allegedly defaming the Kabaka, the king of the Kingdom of Buganda, and other kingdom officials. Musana faces charges of defamation, promoting hate speech, and incitement to violence.

As the dust settles on Awebwa's sentence, Uganda continues to grapple with the balance between regulating online content and upholding freedom of expression in the digital age.