In a shocking turn of events, 21-year-old Ugandan TikToker Emmanuel Nabugodi has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for producing content that insulted President Yoweri Museveni. Nabugodi's sentencing comes after he pleaded guilty to four charges, including hate speech and disseminating harmful information about the president. Known for his comedic sketch videos to a following of approximately 20,000, he drew the ire of authorities with a satirical courtroom scene demanding Museveni's public punishment.
Uganda has seen a series of similar cases; in July, another TikToker, Edward Awebwa, received a six-year sentence for comparable allegations involving critical TikTok posts. The Ugandan court system faces scrutiny from international human rights organizations that resonate with claims that freedom of speech is severely curtailed under Museveni, who has ruled since 1986.
During the court proceedings in Entebbe, Chief Magistrate Stellah Maris Amabilis stated that Nabugodi displayed no remorse for his actions. She asserted that the court's decision aimed to deter social media harassment, particularly directed at prominent figures, including the president. The sentence was handed down under a contentious amendment to the 2022 Computer Misuse Act, which makes it illegal to disseminate information that could “ridicule, degrade or demean” another person or group.
The U.S. State Department's recent human rights report on Uganda criticized the government's abuse of this law to intimidate critics online. High-profile cases, such as that of author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija—who faced similar charges for derogatory statements about Museveni on Twitter before fleeing to Germany—further underline the risks for those opposing the administration. Nabugodi maintains the right to appeal his sentence within two weeks, potentially setting the stage for further scrutiny of Uganda's approach to freedom of expression and human rights.
