Emmanuel Nabugodi, a 21-year-old Ugandan TikToker, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for creating a video that allegedly insulted President Yoweri Museveni.
Nabugodi, known for his comic content shared with 20,000 followers, produced a mock trial video in which he called for the public flogging of the president, according to BBC.
He appeared in court on Monday for sentencing after pleading guilty last week to four charges, including hate speech and spreading malicious information about the president.
Chief Magistrate Stellah Maris Amabilis stated: “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 added that Nabugodi showed no remorse, and the sentence aimed to deter further social media attacks on individuals, including the president.
He retaines the right to appeal within 14 days.
Nabugodi’s conviction falls under a controversial 2022 amendment to the Computer Misuse Act, which criminalises sharing content likely to ridicule or demean individuals or groups.
Rights groups have criticised the amendment, arguing it is used to stifle free speech under Museveni’s regime, which has been in power since 1986.
In July, Edward Awebwa, another TikToker, received a six-year sentence on similar charges, while three others are awaiting trial for social media content.
The US State Department’s 2023 human rights report noted the law has been used to intimidate critics of government policies.
In 2022, award-winning Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was charged with “offensive communication” after criticising Museveni and his son.
He fled to Germany after a month-long detention, during which he claimed to have been tortured.
