KAMPALA, Uganda — A prominent Ugandan lawyer and activist has been remanded to Luzira Prison over online social media posts that prosecutors say maliciously targeted senior judicial officers, in a case that underscores rising tensions over freedom of expression and the use of digital platforms.
Hassan Male Mabirizi Kiwanuka, 39, appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa on Tuesday, where he was charged under the Computer Misuse Act with counts of malicious information and hate speech linked to videos he shared on TikTok.
The charges, formally read in court, allege that Mabirizi used his TikTok account @male.mabirizi in January 2026 to post content accusing Chief Justice Flavian Zeija of being a “conman and fraudster,” corrupt, and having sold property to bribe his way into office. Similar remarks were allegedly directed at Justice Musa Ssekaana of the Court of Appeal.
When the charges were read to him, Mabirizi declined to take a plea, challenging the court’s jurisdiction and objecting to the participation of the presiding magistrate. He described the proceedings as “False and unconstitutional.”
In response, Chief Magistrate Kidasa advised that any concerns about recusal must be formally raised through written submissions. “You need to write to me if you have a concern of recusal. You can file submissions to that effect,” she said.
Mabirizi also protested that he had been remanded without a plea being taken, prompting a firm exchange with the bench. Magistrate Kidasa cautioned him to respect the process and urged his lawyers to address the court.
Anthony Asiimwe, vice president of the Uganda Law Society and Mabirizi’s defence counsel, requested a brief stand-over to consult with his client. However, Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka opposed delays, saying the case was ready for plea-taking. “There is no justification for standing over because the matter is coming up for plea-taking,” he told the court.
The defence’s bail application was not heard because the relevant documents had not been uploaded to the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS). Mabirizi was remanded until February 18, 2026, when the bail application will be considered.
Charges and legal context
Under the charge sheet, Mabirizi faces four counts, two counts of malicious information and two of hate speech, contrary to Sections 28 and 26 of the Computer Misuse Act. Prosecutors contend that the posts were false and likely to demean the reputations of the judges.
Critics of the prosecution say the case reflects broader concerns about freedom of expression in Uganda, where social media and digital platforms have become central arenas for political and legal debate.
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Supporters of Mabirizi argue that the charges are an attempt to curtail criticism of public institutions.
Mabirizi has a history of legal confrontations with the judiciary. In 2022, he was ordered to serve an 18-month prison term for contempt of court after repeated online attacks against judicial officers, a sentence that drew criticism from civil society groups advocating for legal reform and human rights protections.
The case comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of Uganda’s political and legal landscape following the disputed January 2026 presidential election, during which allegations of intimidation and restrictions on civic space were widely reported.
