A Ugandan student has been sentenced to two months in prison over a TikTok video mocking President Yoweri Museveni, triggering fresh concerns about shrinking freedom of expression as the country moves closer to its 2026 general election.
The student, Elson Tumwine, was reported missing on June 8 while on an internship in Hoima, western Uganda.
His disappearance sparked widespread concern, with many fearing he had been abducted.
He eventually reappeared at a police station last week.
Authorities later charged Tumwine with offensive communication for uploading a doctored TikTok clip.
The video falsely portrayed Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, as accusing Museveni of past atrocities.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke told AFP that the video was designed to “ridicule, demean, and incite hostility” against both the president and the speaker.
Tumwine pleaded guilty in a court in Entebbe and publicly apologized for the post.
Rights groups have since condemned the government’s action.
According to human rights lawyer Kato Tumusiime, the case reflects a growing crackdown on free speech online.
He said, “This is part of a disturbing trend where social media users are being silenced ahead of the elections.”
This isn’t the first time a Ugandan citizen has faced legal trouble over anti-Museveni content online.
Last November, another TikToker was convicted for allegedly insulting the president in a viral clip.
President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for four decades, is seeking another term in the upcoming January 2026 elections.
Activists say the country’s democratic space continues to shrink under his leadership.
Amnesty International and other global human rights groups have repeatedly warned of rising repression in Uganda.
As more online critics face arrest, questions mount over the country’s commitment to democratic values.
With the polls approaching, civil society organizations are urging the Museveni government to uphold freedom of expression and avoid using state power to muzzle dissent.