Two Ugandans have been arrested for allegedly insulting President Yoweri Museveni, first girl Janet Museveni and the president’s son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on the video sharing platform TikTok.
Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis remanded David Ssengozi, 21, alias Lucky Choice, and Isaiah Ssekagiri, 28, to Kigo Prison till Wednesday, when they may seem in courtroom for the primary time.
They are accused of inciting hatred and spreading dangerous info towards the primary household and musicians linked to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Appearing in courtroom on Monday, the 2 denied the fees.
They are collectively charged with Julius Tayebwa, 19, who had already been introduced earlier than courtroom and detained for a similar offences.
Prosecutors allege he posted info on TikTok supposed to “ridicule, humiliate and promote hostility” towards the primary household and others
The Justice of the Peace licensed their detention after police mentioned they have been nonetheless investigating the matter.
«You will return on November thirteenth, when the case might be mentioned. Until then you’ll be detained in Kigo Prison,” the Justice of the Peace ordered.
In September, police spokesman Rusoke Kituuma warned that insulting the president, whom he known as the “fountain of honour”, was against the law. He talked about Tiktoker below the title Lucky Choice which he mentioned they have been investigating. The Tiktoker was subsequently arrested.
It’s unclear which put up led to the arrest, however a video launched in April on TikTok on the LuckyChoice70 web page, titled My First Enemies, criticized the primary household utilizing sexually express phrases.
In July, a 24-year-old man was sentenced to 6 years in jail for insulting the president and his first household in a TikTok video. He pleaded responsible and requested for forgiveness.
This comes after the federal government was criticized for limiting individuals’s capacity to criticize the actions of the state or its officers.
The US authorities in a report final 12 months accused Uganda of proscribing web freedom by the usage of felony sanctions.
Rights teams additionally commonly denounce Ugandan authorities for violations of human rights and freedom of expression.
In 2022, award-winning Ugandan writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was charged with two counts of “offensive communication” after making unflattering feedback in regards to the president and his son on Twitter.
He fled the nation to Germany after spending a month in jail, the place he mentioned he was tortured.
