A Uganda prison officer has been sacked for criticising the government on TikTok, in a rare move authorities said amounted to gross indiscipline.
Lawrence Ampe had been under investigation over social media posts accusing senior government officials of corruption, human rights abuses and mistreatment of lower-ranking prison officers.
The standing orders don't allow a public officer to participate in politics, which he is doing even now, prisons spokesman Frank Baine told the BBC, saying Ampe was sacked for politicking in the wrong forum.
The opposition has condemned the move, describing it as evidence of systemic oppression and double standards within the security sector.
The officer shared the dismissal letter on his TikTok account with the caption: I'm finally out free to support truth. In another video, Ampe urged Ugandans not to worry about how he would survive without a job, saying: What we are doing is not all about money but about liberating our nation.
He said he was using TikTok to expose senior government officials who are involved in corruption and misusing their power, and to tell Ugandans how to love their country. The officer has also used his social media accounts to promote election campaign videos for opposition leader Bobi Wine, a pop star-turned-politician, seeking to unseat President Yoweri Museveni.
The Prisons Council officially made the decision to dismiss Ampe, citing laws that prohibit public servants from partaking in political activities outside of official channels. Despite warnings from the Uganda Prisons Service about his upload of political content, Ampe continued, prompting disciplinary measures.
Bobi Wine defended Ampe’s actions, asserting that his dismissal reflects double standards, especially given that some security officials openly support the president without facing consequences.
Freedom of expression in Uganda has been increasingly restricted, with reports indicating incidences of internet censorship and punitive actions against those speaking against the government.
