University Student Charged Over False X Post About President Ruto as Uganda Jails TikToker for Insulting Museveni.
A university student faced charges at the Milimani Law Courts on Monday for disseminating false information. The allegations stemmed from an incident involving the sharing of an image of a funeral procession accompanied by misleading captions.
According to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the accused, David Oaga Mokaya, allegedly posted the image on November 13, 2024, via his X (formerly Twitter) account, “Landlord @bozgabi.” The post purportedly claimed that the image depicted President William Ruto being transported.
The court was informed that the image showed a casket draped in the Kenyan flag, escorted by military officers in ceremonial uniforms.
The prosecution asserted that the image and accompanying details were fabricated to create the impression of the President’s involvement. Mokaya was accused of falsifying the date and other details to make the post appear authentic.
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Mokaya appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhumbi and pleaded not guilty to the charges of publishing false information. The prosecution underscored the seriousness of the offence, emphasizing that it contravened laws designed to curb disinformation and uphold public order.
The court set Mokaya’s bail terms, granting him a bond of KSh 100,000 or a cash bail of KSh 50,000. The case is scheduled for a hearing on December 4, 2024, when further proceedings will take place.
Ugandan TikToker Jailed for Insulting President Museveni
A 21-year-old Ugandan TikTok influencer, Emmanuel Nabugodi, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for mocking President Yoweri Museveni in a controversial video. Known for his comedic posts to over 20,000 followers, Nabugodi faced charges of spreading hate speech and disseminating false information about the president.
The charges arose from a video in which Nabugodi staged a mock trial for Museveni, calling for the president’s public flogging. He pleaded guilty to these accusations and appeared before Chief Magistrate Stellah Maris Amabilis in Entebbe, who handed down the sentence.
This case is one among a growing list of social media-related prosecutions in Uganda. In July, Edward Awebwa, another Ugandan TikToker, was sentenced to six years for similar offences, while three others currently await trial for their social media content.
Critics argue that the government’s actions are suppressing free speech, pointing to Museveni’s extended rule since 1986 as fostering a climate of fear around criticism.
A Deterrent Against Social Media Misuse
During sentencing, Magistrate Amabilis noted Nabugodi showed no remorse for his actions. She emphasized that the punishment was intended to deter individuals from using social media to attack others, including public figures.
The court expressed hope that Nabugodi would learn from the imprisonment that creating content at the expense of abusing others is unacceptable.
Nabugodi’s conviction was made under Uganda’s amended Computer Misuse Act of 2022, which prohibits sharing content meant to degrade or mock individuals, groups, or entities. Critics have labeled the law as a tool for silencing dissent and curbing online freedoms.
The US State Department’s 2023 human rights report also highlighted the misuse of this law to intimidate critics of government policies.
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Nabugodi’s case adds to Uganda’s troubling human rights record. In 2022, author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija faced similar persecution for criticizing Museveni and his son online. Rukirabashaija, who reported being tortured during his month-long imprisonment, eventually fled the country.
The incident underscores the continued threat to free expression in Uganda, where government critics increasingly face harsh repercussions.
University Student Charged Over False X Post About President Ruto as Uganda Jails TikToker for Insulting Museveni
