A 21-year-old TikToker in Uganda, Emmanuel Nabugodi, has been convicted for urging the public to flog President Yoweri Museveni in a viral video.
Nabugodi, who created a mock trial video of Museveni on TikTok, pleaded guilty to charges of “spreading hate speech” against the president. He now faces up to seven years in prison.
During a court session in Entebbe on Wednesday, state attorney Paul Aheebwa Byamukama requested the maximum sentence for Nabugodi, who has been held at the Kigo maximum security prison near Kampala. His sentencing is scheduled for November 18.
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Nabugodi is the fourth Ugandan in recent days to be prosecuted for publicly criticizing Museveni and his family. In a similar case, another 21-year-old TikToker was sentenced in July to six years in prison for insulting the president.
Criticism of the long-serving leader has led to several high-profile arrests. In 2021, award-winning author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was detained and charged for criticizing Museveni and his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on social media. Rukirabashaija, who later fled to Germany, alleged he was tortured during his detention.
Uganda’s government has a history of cracking down on critics, especially around election periods. In 2020, four members of a comedy group were arrested after releasing a satirical video that mocked Museveni and other top officials. Following public outcry, the charges against them were eventually dropped.
The increasing suppression of free speech in Uganda has drawn international attention. The country ranks 128th out of 180 nations on the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, highlighting ongoing concerns over media and speech restrictions under Museveni’s administration.
