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Ugandan TikToker Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Insulting President

Written by Jerry Alomatu on July 11, 2024

News Views: 56

A Ugandan court has handed down a six-year prison sentence to Edward Awebwa, a 24-year-old TikToker, for insulting President Yoweri Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, and their son Muhoozi Kainerugaba in a TikTok video.

The charges against Awebwa included hate speech and spreading “misleading and malicious” information about the first family, as reported.

Awebwa had posted content alleging an increase in taxes under President Museveni’s administration. Despite pleading guilty and seeking forgiveness, Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis noted his lack of remorse and the offensive nature of his language.

Magistrate Amabilis emphasized the need for a punitive measure to instill respect for the president and his family, stating, “The accused deserves a punishment which will enable him to learn from his past so that next time he will respect the person of the president, the first lady, and the first son.”

Awebwa was sentenced to six years for each of the four charges, to be served concurrently. This case has sparked criticism from rights groups, who often accuse Ugandan authorities of violating human rights and restricting freedom of expression.

In a similar incident in 2022, award-winning author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija faced charges of “offensive communication” after criticizing the president and his son on Twitter. Rukirabashaija fled to Germany after a month in detention, alleging torture.

Another case involved activist and writer Stella Nyanzi, who went into exile after facing imprisonment for publishing a critical poem about President Museveni.