Entebbe Senior Magistrate Grade One, Edgar Tibayeita Tusiime has found TikToker Juma Musuuza also known as Madubarah guilty after nearly a year of proceedings.
The prosecution based its case on evidence from three witnesses—Fred Tumusiime (liaison officer between the Special Forces Command and Police), Detective Corporal Congo Richard, and SP Henry Kenneth Angura—who testified that Musuuza’s TikTok posts were intended to demean key government leaders.
In an October video from the TikTok account “Madubarah UG,” Musuuza claimed that if Museveni handed over power to his son, “a drunkard,” the country would collapse within two days, urging Ugandans to “pray for our country and ourselves.”
It should be known that TikToker Juma Musuuza also known as Madubarah subscribes to the National Unity Platforrm (NUP) which has been a thorn in the sides of the NRM government.
He also stated that if Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba took over, “whoever talks, we shall kill or arrest you,” citing concerns that “according to how he drinks,” the nation would be destroyed.
Another post mocked Speaker Anita Among, alleging that public funds were used to erect a mansion surpassing State House, and referencing her use of bleaching chemicals.
Legal Arguments
The defense attempted to challenge the court’s jurisdiction and argued that the videos had not been formally submitted as evidence, but rather introduced via a police report.
The court dismissed these objections, ruling that the presented evidence satisfied the burden of proof.
State Attorney Paul Ahebwa characterized the behavior as part of a broader trend where social media users cloak hate speech and defamation under the guise of freedom of expression, threatening national peace and unity.
He urged the court to impose the maximum penalty—seven years in prison or a fine of Shs 15 million (750 currency points).
In contrast, defense lawyers Jonathan Elotu and Mahad Kawuma asked for leniency. They emphasized that Musuuza is the sole provider for his family, had already spent nearly ten months in remand, and that a harsh sentence could chill free speech.
Musuuza Speaks
Musuuza told the court that he was assaulted by security forces who forced him to surrender his phone password—an ordeal that included losing a front tooth.
