(Entebbe) – A 21 year old Ugandan TikToker, Emmanuel Nabugodi, was convicted on Wednesday for spreading hate speech and malicious content against President Yoweri Museveni. The ruling was delivered by Entebbe Court Chief Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis, who convicted Nabugodi based on his guilty plea.
Nabugodi admitted in court to posting an offensive video targeting President Museveni on TikTok under the account name “rice027.” According to state officials, the content was designed to degrade and incite negative sentiment against the president. The incident occurred in September 2024 in Uganda’s Wakiso District, after which Nabugodi reportedly fled to the Bugisu region in eastern Uganda. Following an investigation, law enforcement tracked and detained him in Mbale District.
Nabugodi was charged under Section 26 (1) (a) (c) and Section 28 (1) and (2) of the Computer Misuse Act, Cap 96, for hate speech and spreading harmful information. These offences carry a maximum prison sentence of seven years. He is currently being held at Kigo Maximum Security Prison and is scheduled for sentencing next Monday, November 18.
The state attorney, Paul Aheebwa Byamukama, urged the court to impose a maximum sentence or an alternative fine of 1.5 million Ugandan shillings to act as a deterrent for similar offences. This case is part of an ongoing effort by Ugandan authorities to address hate speech and defamation through social media platforms.
The court’s decision comes just a day after another case involving similar charges. TikTokers David Ssengozi, also known as Lucky Choice, and Isaiah Ssekagiri were remanded to Kigo Prison after being charged with hate speech and spreading malicious information against the president. Prosecutors allege that Ssekagiri used his TikTok account, “cetewayosense29,” to share content likely to incite hostility toward President Museveni between January and October.
In Ssekagiri’s case, state attorney Janet Kitimbo informed the court that investigations are still underway.
