Two Ugandans have been detained for allegedly insulting President Yoweri Museveni, the first lady Janet Museveni and the president’s son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on the video-sharing platform, TikTok.<\/p>\n Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis remanded 21-year-old David Ssengozi, alias Lucky Choice, and Isaiah Ssekagiri , 28, to Kigo prison until Wednesday when they will make an initial court appearance.<\/p>\n They are accused of hate speech and spreading malicious information against the first family and musicians linked to the governing National Resistance Movement (NRM).<\/p>\n Appearing in court on Monday, the two denied the charges.<\/p>\n They are jointly charged with Julius Tayebwa, 19, who had already been brought before court and remanded in prison for the same offences.<\/p>\n Prosecutors allege that they posted information on TikTok meant to “ridicule degrade, demean, and promote hostility\u201d against the first family and others<\/p>\n The magistrate allowed their detention after police said they were still making inquiries on the matter.<\/p>\n \u201cYou will come back on the 13 November, when the case will come up for mention. You are remanded at Kigo prison till then,\u201d the magistrate ordered.<\/p>\n In September, police spokesman Rusoke Kituuma warned that abusing the president, who he termed the “fountain of honour”, was an offence. He mentioned a TikToker with the name Lucky Choice who he said they were investigating. He was later arrested.<\/p>\n It is not clear which post led to the arrest, but a video released in April on TikTok on the page LuckyChoice70, with the title My First Enemies, criticised the first family using sexually explicit terms.<\/p>\n In July, a 24-year-old man was sentenced to six years in prison for insulting the president and the first family on a TikTok video. He had pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness.<\/p>\n It comes as the government has been criticised for restricting people\u2019s ability to criticise actions by the state or its officials.<\/p>\n The US government in a report last year accused Uganda of restricting internet freedom through the use of criminal punishments.<\/p>\n Rights groups also regularly denounce the Ugandan authorities over violations of human rights and the freedom of expression.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n He fled the country to Germany after spending a month in jail, where he said he had been tortured.<\/p>\nYou may also be interested in:<\/h2>\n