Ugandan TikToker Sentenced to Six Years for Insulting President
A 24-year-old Ugandan man, Edward Awebwa, has been sentenced to six years in prison for insulting President Yoweri Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, and their son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in a TikTok video.
Charged with hate speech and spreading “misleading and malicious” information, Awebwa pleaded guilty but was deemed unremorseful by the court.
Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis emphasized the need for Awebwa to learn respect for the president and his family.
He received six years for each of the four charges, to be served concurrently.
Rights groups often criticize Uganda for its human rights and freedom of expression record.
In 2022, author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija faced similar charges and fled to Germany after alleging torture.
Activist Stella Nyanzi was also jailed for criticizing Museveni.
Museveni, in power since 1986, enacted laws against offensive speech in 2022, which rights groups argue suppress freedom of expression.
Last year, Uganda’s constitutional court ruled parts of the law unconstitutional, but charges continue under its broader framework.
Human rights lawyer Michael Aboneka criticized the vagueness of the law and defended the public’s right to criticize leadership.
Source: BBC News Africa
