TWO Ugandans have been detained after allegedly insulting President Yoweri Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, and the president’s son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on TikTok. David Ssengozi, 21, known as Lucky Choice, and Isaiah Ssekagiri, 28, were remanded in custody at Kigo prison on Monday, awaiting their court appearance scheduled for Wednesday.
The pair face charges of hate speech and spreading malicious information, specifically targeting Uganda’s first family and musicians aligned with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). The two denied the charges in court, where they appeared alongside Julius Tayebwa, 19, who had already been remanded for similar offences.
The authorities claim that the accused used TikTok to post content designed to ‘degrade, demean, and promote hostility’ against the first family, although it remains unclear which specific post led to their arrests.
Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis ruled that the two would remain in detention while police continue their investigations. ‘You will come back on 13 November for the case mention,’ she told the court.
In September, police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma had warned that insulting the president, whom he referred to as the ‘fountain of honour,’ was a punishable offence. At that time, the TikTok account of Lucky Choice was flagged for investigation.
This incident follows a broader pattern of government crackdowns on online criticism of state officials. In July, a 24-year-old man was sentenced to six years in prison for similar charges of insulting the first family on TikTok.
The Ugandan government has faced growing criticism for restricting freedom of expression, with rights groups and international bodies regularly condemning the country for violations of human rights. The US government’s 2023 report highlighted Uganda’s increasing use of criminal punishment to curtail internet freedom.
In 2022, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, an award-winning Ugandan author, was charged with ‘offensive communication’ after posting disparaging remarks about President Museveni and his son on Twitter. He later fled Uganda for Germany, claiming he had been tortured during his detention.
The Ugandan government’s approach to online speech has sparked concerns internationally, with critics arguing that the country’s political climate is becoming increasingly hostile to freedom of expression, especially online. As the legal proceedings against Ssengozi, Ssekagiri, and Tayebwa unfold, the attention on Uganda’s treatment of critics continues to grow.
