A Ugandan court has convicted 21-year-old TikTok content creator Emmanuel Nabugodi for “spreading hate speech” against President Yoweri Museveni. Nabugodi, who posted a video on TikTok that depicted a mock trial and called for the public flogging of Museveni, now faces a prison term of up to seven years.
Nabugodi pleaded guilty in court on Wednesday and has been remanded at the high-security Kigo prison near Kampala, awaiting his sentencing on November 18. State prosecutor Paul Aheebwa Byamukama confirmed that the prosecution has urged the court to impose the maximum sentence.
Nabugodi is the fourth Ugandan to be detained in recent days over similar charges of insulting the president and his family. In July, another young TikTok user received a six-year sentence for insulting Museveni, who has governed Uganda since 1986.
Criticism of Museveni’s leadership has led to the arrest of several prominent figures. In 2021, award-winning author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was detained and reportedly tortured after publicly criticizing Museveni and his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba. He later fled to Germany. In 2020, four members of a comedy group were also jailed after releasing a satirical video about Uganda’s leaders, though they were eventually released following public outcry.
Uganda ranks 128th out of 180 countries on the press freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders, highlighting ongoing restrictions on free speech and media freedom in the country.
