Ugandan court jails Tiktoker for insulting president

A Ugandan court has handed down a six-year prison sentence to a 24-year-old man for insulting the president and his family in a TikTok video. 

Edward Awebwa was found guilty of hate speech and disseminating "misleading and malicious" information about President Yoweri Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, and their son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the head of the military per a BBC report.

The court was informed that Awebwa had shared offensive content, including claims of impending tax increases under President Museveni's administration. Despite Awebwa's plea for leniency, the presiding magistrate noted his lack of apparent remorse and the extremely offensive language used in the video.

"The accused needs a punishment that will teach him to respect the president, the first lady, and the first son," stated Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis. 

Awebwa received a six-year sentence for each of the four charges against him, all to be served concurrently.