A final-year student at Makerere University, Elson Tumwine, has been sentenced to two months in prison. He admitted to posting a TikTok video in May that insulted President Yoweri Museveni and Speaker of Parliament Anita Among. The video was considered offensive under the Computer Misuse Act.
Tumwine, who had been missing while interning in Hoima, appeared in court in Entebbe before Grade One Magistrate Tibayeita Edgar Tusiime. The prosecution, led by Ahebwa Byaruhanga Paul, said Tumwine’s video aimed to mock and stir up hostility against the President and the Speaker.
The magistrate gave Tumwine a shorter sentence of two months because he admitted his guilt and asked for forgiveness, saving the court’s time.
Tumwine is now the sixth TikTok user in Uganda to be jailed for similar charges of offensive communication targeting President Museveni, his family, or senior government officials.
