By Ollus Ndomu
Edward Awebwa, a 24-year-old Ugandan, has been sentenced to six years in prison for using TikTok to disseminate hate speech and false information about President Yoweri Museveni and his family.
Prosecutors claimed that Awebwa’s video, posted on his platform “Save Media Uganda,” targeted the president, First Lady Janet Museveni, and their son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who heads the military.
Awebwa is among several content creators jailed under the Computer Misuse Act of 2022 for spreading “malicious information” and “hate speech.” This crackdown forms part of a broader effort by Ugandan security agencies to curb social media posts targeting top government officials.
The severity of Awebwa’s punishment has sparked debate over the balance between free speech and maintaining respect for government figures.
