TikToker sentenced to six years for insulting Ugandan President

A 24-year-old Ugandan man has been sentenced to six years in prison for using TikTok to disseminate hate speech and false information aimed at President Yoweri Museveni and his family. The sentence was handed down on Wednesday by Chief Magistrate Stellah-Maris Amabilisi at the Entebbe Chief Magistrate Court.

Edward Awebwa, the individual behind the account “Save Media Uganda,” was arrested after posting a derogatory video targeting the president, his wife, and their son. According to Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, Awebwa shared videos mocking President Museveni between February and March 2024.

This sentencing falls within a larger initiative by security agencies to combat the use of social media for insulting high-ranking government officials.

Awebwa is among several content creators recently imprisoned under the Computer Misuse Act of 2022 for propagating what authorities deem “malicious information” and “hate speech.”

Human rights activists have criticised the Computer Misuse Act, currently under challenge in the Constitutional Court, describing it as repressive. The Act defines offensive communication as the “wilful and repeated use of electronic communication to disturb or attempt to disturb the peace, quiet, or right of privacy of any person without legitimate communication purposes.” Violators can face fines, imprisonment of up to one year, or both.

This case underscores the growing tensions between government authorities and digital expression in Uganda, highlighting the complex landscape of freedom of speech in the country.

In May 2024, a man in Malawi was convicted for insulting President Lazarus Chakwera through a TikTok video. The video featured an animated figure with Chakwera’s face superimposed, performing comical dance moves. Sainani Nkhoma was found guilty on Thursday of sharing the video along with offensive remarks about the president in a community WhatsApp group.

In May 2022, free speech advocates condemned the arrest of a nurse for criticising President Chakwera during a WhatsApp discussion on governance. Chidawawa Mainje, 39, was charged with cyber harassment and faced up to five years in prison and a $2,500 fine if convicted.

Mainje was arrested after using an expletive to criticise the president’s impact on the lives of Malawians.