Ugandan TikToker Sentenced to Over Two Years for Insulting President Museveni

Emmanuel Nabugodi, a 21-year-old Ugandan TikToker, was sentenced to 32 months in prison for creating content that allegedly insulted President Yoweri Museveni. This incident highlights ongoing debates about freedom of speech and governmental censorship in Uganda, especially in the context of a controversial Computer Misuse Act amendment.

Emmanuel Nabugodi, a 21-year-old Ugandan TikToker, has recently been sentenced to 32 months in prison for producing a video deemed insulting to President Yoweri Museveni. Nabugodi, who built an audience of around 20,000 followers with comedy content, pleaded guilty last week to multiple charges, including hate speech and spreading malicious information. His offending video staged a mock trial and called for the president's public flogging.

Nabugodi's sentencing adds to a troubling trend in Uganda, where several individuals have faced imprisonment for criticizing or mocking the long-standing president, who has maintained power since 1986. In July, another TikToker, Edward Awebwa, received a six-year sentence under similar circumstances, and three others are currently awaiting trial for their content.

While handing down the sentence, chief magistrate Stellah Maris Amabilis emphasized that Nabugodi showed no remorse for his actions and that the punishment aimed to curb social media attacks against any individual, particularly the president. Amabilis noted, "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.” Nabugodi has the option to appeal the sentence within 14 days.

The legal basis for this conviction rests on a controversial amendment to the Computer Misuse Act enacted in 2022. This law criminalizes any digital communication that could be interpreted as ridiculing or demeaning another individual or group. Human rights organizations have criticized the Ugandan government for using this law to stifle criticism and intimidate internet users.

The U.S. State Department's human rights report on Uganda highlighted the misuse of such laws to suppress free expression, reinforcing worries regarding civil liberties in the country. This is not the first notable case; award-winning Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija faced charges of "offensive communication" for criticizing the president on Twitter in 2022, leading to his exile in Germany following claims of torture during his imprisonment.

As Nabugodi begins his sentence, the implications for freedom of speech and artistic expression in Uganda continue to draw international attention and concern.