21-year-old Ugandan TikToker and content creator, Emmanuel Nabugodi, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for allegedly insulting President Yoweri Museveni in a satirical video.
Nabugodi was found guilty by an Entebbe High Court for allegedly creating a video deemed insulting to President Museveni, a verdict which human rights advocates say further entrenches Uganda’s intolerance for criticism of government officials and holding them accountable.
During his arraignment before Chief Magistrate Stellah Maris Amabilis on Monday, Nabugodi pleaded guilty to four charges of defamation of character.
The content creator who gained popularity for his comedy sketches with over 20,000 followers, pleaded guilty to charges including hate speech and spreading malicious content about the president.
Local media report that the offensive video featured a mock trial of President Museveni, where Nabugodi depicted the leader being subjected to public flogging.
While delivering the judgement, Chief Magistrate Amabilis said the sentencing aimed to deter social media users from targeting others, including high-profile individuals like the president.
“This court hopes that by the time the convict leaves prison, he will have learned that abusing people in the name of creating content is unacceptable,” she stated.
Rights groups have frequently raised concerns about shrinking freedoms of expression in Uganda with critics arguing that Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, has little tolerance for dissent.
Nabugodi’s case is the latest in a string of arrests targeting social media users.
In July, another TikTok creator, Edward Awebwa, received a six-year prison sentence on similar charges, while three others are awaiting trial for their TikTok contents.
The convictions stem from Uganda’s 2022 amendment to the Computer Misuse Act, which criminalizes sharing content online that could “ridicule, degrade, or demean” others based on their identity or affiliation.
Human rights organizations have also accused Ugandan authorities of routinely violating freedoms of speech and expression, with many calling for reforms to protect citizens’ digital rights.