Juma Musuuza, also known as Madubarah on TikTok, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after being convicted of hate speech and spreading malicious information against President Yoweri Museveni, Speaker Anita Among, and First Son Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The ruling was delivered by Entebbe Senior Magistrate Grade One, Edgar Tibayeita Tusiime. Musuuza, a shoe hawker and supporter of the National Unity Platform (NUP), was found guilty on six counts—three of hate speech and three of malicious information.
The Offending Content
In October 2024, Musuuza used his TikTok account “Madubarah UG” to publish videos criticizing the country’s top leaders.
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In one video, he claimed that if President Museveni handed over power to his “drunkard” son, Uganda would collapse within two days.
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In another, he said that if Muhoozi became President, those who opposed him would either be jailed or killed.
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He also targeted Speaker Among, accusing her of misusing taxpayers’ money to build a mansion more luxurious than State House and mocking her for allegedly buying bleaching products.
Arguments in Court
State Attorney Paul Byamukama Aheebwa pushed for the maximum penalty of seven years in prison or a fine of Shs 15 million. He argued that Musuuza’s posts incited hatred under the pretext of exercising freedom of expression.
Musuuza’s lawyer, Jonathan Elotu, appealed for leniency. He explained that Musuuza is a family man, the sole breadwinner for his household, and a first-time offender. The defense also highlighted that he had already spent about ten months on remand in Kigo Prison.
The Sentence
The magistrate acknowledged Musuuza’s remorse and lack of prior convictions. He sentenced him to 12 months on each count, but ruled that the sentences would run concurrently. This means Musuuza will serve a total of one year in prison, starting from his initial remand date of October 23, 2024.
The magistrate also informed Musuuza of his right to appeal.
Defense Reaction
Following the ruling, defense lawyer Mahad Kawuma said they would not appeal the sentence but would challenge the conviction itself. He argued that the case undermines Article 29 of Uganda’s Constitution, which protects the right to criticize leaders, and questioned whether a Grade One magistrate had jurisdiction to preside over such cases. He also warned that the decision could create a dangerous precedent for future cases.
Similar Cases
Musuuza’s case is one of several recent rulings involving social media users accused of insulting top leaders:
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Makerere University finalist and TikToker Elson Tumwine was sentenced to two months in prison after pleading guilty to offensive communication against the President and Speaker.
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Emmanuel Nabugodi, 21, was jailed for two years on charges of hate speech and malicious information targeting the President.
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Another TikToker, Edward Awebwa, was sentenced to six years for posting abusive content against President Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, and Gen. Muhoozi on his account “Save Media Uganda.”
These cases highlight the increasing crackdown on online critics of Uganda’s political leadership.
