The leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has condemned the detention of a TikToker facing six years in prison for allegedly insulting President Museveni, his wife, and his son.
His remarks came after the Entebbe Chief Magistrate's Court sentenced 24-year-old Edward Awebwa to six years in prison for insulting the president and the first family through a video posted on TikTok.
Awebwa was charged with hate speech and spreading "misleading and malicious" information against President Yoweri Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, and their son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is the head of the military.
The court also heard that Awebwa had shared abusive information and claimed there would be an increase in taxes under President Museveni. He pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness.
In a statement, Kyagulanyi criticized the double standards in Uganda's justice system, highlighting the freedom enjoyed by individuals who support the regime despite being accused of serious crimes.
"Unless otherwise, this young man a TikToker is set to spend six years in detention for 'insulting' Gen. Museveni, his wife, and son," Kyagulanyi stated.
"The same Museveni who regularly insults those who disagree with him calling them idiots and swine. The same Museveni who looks on as his apologists insult, ridicule, and disparage those who oppose his rule,"he added.
Kyagulanyi pointed out the stark contrast between the treatment of regime critics and regime supporters, noting that corrupt individuals and self-professed murderers continue to roam freely, often receiving VIP treatment, solely because they support the current government.
In 2022, award-winning Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was charged with two counts of "offensive communication" after making unflattering remarks about the president and his son on Twitter.
He fled the country to Germany after spending a month in jail, where he claimed he had been tortured.
Activist and writer Dr Stella Nyanzi, who is also in exile, had earlier been jailed after publishing a poem critical of Mr. Museveni.
In 2022, Museveni signed into law a bill against speech that rights groups criticized, saying it was aimed at suppressing freedom of speech online.
Last year, the constitutional court ruled that a section of the act that penalised "offensive communication" was unconstitutional.
