
A Ugandan court has convicted Emmanuel Nabugodi, a 21-year-old TikToker, for creating a video that called for the public flogging of President Yoweri Museveni. The video, which depicted a mock trial of Museveni, was deemed to be "spreading hate speech" against the head of state.

As a result, Nabugodi faces a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison. He pleaded guilty and is currently being held at the Kigo maximum security prison near Kampala, awaiting sentencing on November 18.
This case marks Nabugodi as the fourth Ugandan in recent days to be charged with insulting the president and his family. In a similar incident in July, another 21-year-old TikToker received a six-year prison sentence for insulting Museveni, who has been in power since overthrowing Milton Obote in 1986.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions in Uganda regarding freedom of expression, as the country ranks 128th out of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.
The conviction of Nabugodi follows a pattern of government crackdowns on dissent. Notably, award-winning author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was arrested in late 2021 for insulting Museveni and his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Rukirabashaija, who later fled to Germany, claimed he was tortured during his detention.
Additionally, in 2020, four members of a comedy troupe were jailed for releasing a satirical video about Ugandan leaders, although an online campaign eventually led to their release.
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