Three TikTokers arrested for insulting President Museveni & his family

Three TikTokers have been arrested in Uganda for insulting President Yoweri Museveni and his family on TikTok.

The three content creators have been accused of publishing a video on TikTok attacking President Museveni, his wife, First Lady Janet Museveni, and their son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

David Ssengozi, alias Lucky Choice, 21, Isaiah Ssekagiri, 28, and Julius Tayebwa, 19, had been remanded since their arrest, and they appeared today, Wednesday, November 13.

The trio is being accused of hate speech and mongering malicious information against the first family.

Prosecutors allege that they posted information on TikTok intended to “ridicule, degrade, demean, and promote hostility” against the first family and others

The magistrate allowed their custody after police stated that they were still investigating the matter.
“You will return on November 13, when the matter will be mentioned. “You are remanded in Kigo Prison until then,” the magistrate said.

In September, police spokesman Rusoke Kituuma cautioned that disrespecting the president, whom he dubbed the “fountain of honour,” was a crime. He referenced a TikToker named Lucky Choice, whom he stated they were investigating. He was eventually arrested.

It is unclear which post resulted in the arrest, but a TikTok video titled My First Enemies, posted in April on the LuckyChoice70 page, used sexually explicit language to criticize the first family.

In July, a 24-year-old man was sentenced to six years in prison after abusing the president and the first family in a TikTok video. He had admitted fault and asked for pardon.

It comes as the administration has been chastised for limiting citizens’ freedom to criticise actions taken by the state or its representatives.