Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | The Chief Magistrate Court in Entebbe has handed down a six-year prison sentence to a TikTok user, Edward Awebwa for making derogatory remarks about President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni.
Mr. Awebwa, 24, admitted to the charges of hate speech and spreading malicious information against the President, the First Lady, and the First Son Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Despite Awebwa’s plea for forgiveness, Entebbe Chief Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis dismissed his request.
Edward Awebwa, who had been in remand for the past five days, expressed remorse and asked for leniency, stating he had learned his lesson.
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“Your Worship, I seek forgiveness because I have learnt a lesson and I promise I will never do it again,” Awebwa pleaded.
However, the magistrate was not convinced by his plea.
“I conquer with the state that this is an offence which is becoming rampant. The likes of the accused run to social media to bring their anger. There are even facts that the accused was paid only Shs 50,000 to demean the person of President Museveni, the person of the First Lady and the First Son. This sentence is meant to ensure this habit stops.”
