Teenager sentenced to six months for pronouncing Gen Museveni sick and saying Gen Muhoozi is a homosexual on TikTok
Prosecution also told the court that Ssemugenyi published hate speech about Gen Muhoozi, alleging that the CDF is homosexual. The state argued that the videos were malicious, unlawful, and intended to harm the reputation of both leaders.
A court in Kampala has sentenced 20-year-old Senior Six student, Edison Ssemugenyi, to six months in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of spreading false information and making hate speech against President Yoweri Museveni and the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, also Museveni’s son.
According to prosecutors, Ssemugenyi used the social media platform TikTok to circulate claims that President Museveni was bedridden, information they described as false and intended to mislead the public.
Prosecution also told the court that Ssemugenyi published hate speech about Gen Muhoozi, alleging that the CDF is homosexual. The state argued that the videos were malicious, unlawful, and intended to harm the reputation of both leaders.
Ssemugenyi was arrested last month shortly after sitting for only two papers of his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exams. He has been on remand during the investigations.
On Tuesday, he appeared before court and pleaded guilty to two counts: spreading false information and hate speech. He was subsequently sentenced to six months at Luzira Prison.
He, however, denied a separate charge related to a TikTok post accusing President Museveni of theft. That matter remains under consideration.
Ssemugenyi’s conviction comes amid increased government scrutiny of online content and growing concerns over misinformation and cyber-harassment on social media platforms.
