Ibrahim Musana, popularly known as Pressure 24 Seven on TikTok, has faced further remand by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court on charges related to hate speech directed towards President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi. The 27-year-old was initially brought before the court on February 23rd, 2024, and accused of disseminating information that ridicules and promotes hostility against several prominent figures, including the Kabaka, the President, the Speaker of Parliament, and the State Minister for ICT.
Musana, represented by lawyers Kakuru Tumusiime and Kato Tumusiime, has denied the charges against him. Despite his plea of innocence, he was remanded to Luzira Prison due to the absence of sureties during his initial court appearance. Now, as the court awaits updates on the progress of investigations, Musana has sought bail, asserting that the charges leveled against him are bailable.
In support of his bail application, Musana provided two sureties: his sister Brenda Nambooze and his friend Ibrahim Ssembatya. Both individuals vouched for his character and provided evidence of his fixed place of residence. However, the prosecution requested additional time to verify the authenticity of the documents presented by the sureties, leading to Musana’s continued remand.
Musana’s defense has highlighted his struggles with mental health, claiming that he was unaware of the legal ramifications of his actions due to psychological distress. He cited spiritual disturbances and financial constraints as contributing factors to his behavior. Despite his pleas for leniency and assurances of refraining from further hate speech, the magistrate has opted to maintain his remand status.
The genesis of Musana’s legal troubles stems from allegations brought forth by Buganda Kingdom officials, prompting police intervention and subsequent legal proceedings. Despite attempts to address his mental health concerns and mitigate the impact of his actions, Musana remains in custody awaiting further court proceedings.
