A 21-year-old Ugandan TikTok creator, Emmanuel Nabugodi, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for allegedly insulting President Yoweri Museveni through a satirical video. Nabugodi, who rose to fame with comedic sketches and had amassed 20,000 followers, pleaded guilty to charges of hate speech and spreading malicious content about the president.
The video that led to his arrest depicted a mock trial of President Museveni, featuring a scene where the leader faced public flogging. Chief Magistrate Stellah Maris Amabilis, presiding over the court in Entebbe, stated that the harsh sentence aimed to discourage social media users from targeting individuals, including high-profile figures like the president.
“This court hopes that by the time the convict leaves prison, he will have learned that abusing people in the name of creating content is unacceptable,” she declared. Nabugodi has 14 days to appeal the ruling.
Crackdown on Free Expression
Nabugodi’s case has drawn attention to Uganda’s increasing restrictions on digital freedoms. Rights groups argue that President Museveni, who has ruled since 1986, tolerates little dissent. The sentencing follows similar cases, including the imprisonment of TikTok creator Edward Awebwa, who received a six-year sentence in July, and three others awaiting trial for their online content.
The convictions stem from Uganda’s 2022 amendment to the Computer Misuse Act, which criminalizes online content that could “ridicule, degrade, or demean” others. Critics, including the U.S. State Department, have labeled the law a tool for suppressing government criticism.
Growing Global Concern
Human rights organizations accuse Ugandan authorities of routinely violating freedoms of speech and expression. The sentencing of Nabugodi highlights the tension between free expression and government regulation in Uganda’s digital era, prompting renewed calls for reforms to safeguard citizens’ digital rights.
