Ugandan TikTokers held for insulting first family
Two Ugandans have been detained for allegedly insulting President Yoweri Museveni, the first lady Janet Museveni and the president's son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on the video-sharing platform, TikTok.
Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis remanded 21-year-old David Ssengozi, alias Lucky Choice, and Isaiah Ssekagiri , 28, to Kigo prison until Wednesday when they were expected to make an initial court appearance.
They are accused of hate speech and spreading malicious information against the first family and musicians linked to the governing National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Appearing in court on Monday, the two denied the charges.
In September, police spokesman Rusoke Kituuma warned that abusing the president, who he termed the "fountain of honour", was an offence. He mentioned a TikToker with the name Lucky Choice who he said they were investigating. He was later arrested.
It is not clear which post led to the arrest, but a video released in April on TikTok on the page LuckyChoice70, with the title My First Enemies, criticised the first family using sexually explicit terms.
In July, a 24-year-old man was sentenced to six years in prison for insulting the president and the first family on a TikTok video. He had pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness.
It comes as the government has been criticised for restricting people’s ability to criticise actions by the state or its officials.
Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis remanded 21-year-old David Ssengozi, alias Lucky Choice, and Isaiah Ssekagiri , 28, to Kigo prison until Wednesday when they were expected to make an initial court appearance.
They are accused of hate speech and spreading malicious information against the first family and musicians linked to the governing National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Appearing in court on Monday, the two denied the charges.
In September, police spokesman Rusoke Kituuma warned that abusing the president, who he termed the "fountain of honour", was an offence. He mentioned a TikToker with the name Lucky Choice who he said they were investigating. He was later arrested.
It is not clear which post led to the arrest, but a video released in April on TikTok on the page LuckyChoice70, with the title My First Enemies, criticised the first family using sexually explicit terms.
In July, a 24-year-old man was sentenced to six years in prison for insulting the president and the first family on a TikTok video. He had pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness.
It comes as the government has been criticised for restricting people’s ability to criticise actions by the state or its officials.
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