A brother of former government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo has been remanded to Luzira Prison after appearing before the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court on charges of allegedly unlawfully obtaining and disclosing the personal data of Dr. Tanga Odoi.
Opondo Dem Gaster, 38, a political activist from Tororo District, appeared before Chief Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza on Monday and denied the charges.
Prosecutors charged him with unlawful obtaining or disclosure of personal data, contrary to Sections 35(1) and 35(2) of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, Cap. 97.
According to the prosecution, Opondo used his X account, @dem_opondo, to publish Dr. Tanga Odoi’s name and photographs without his consent. The alleged offences were committed on May 26 and July 7, 2026, in different parts of Uganda, including Kampala and Tororo districts.
Court documents indicate that the publication of the information was carried out without the complainant’s authorization, which prosecutors say constitutes a violation of Uganda’s data protection laws.
Opondo, who was previously associated with the National Unity Platform (NUP) before joining the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), was arrested last week and held at Jinja Road Police Station before being arraigned in court.
During the court session, he applied for bail and presented sureties, including Laston Oyuk and two of his neighbours from Tororo District.
However, the prosecution requested more time to verify the suitability of the sureties before the court could determine the bail application.
Chief Magistrate Muhumuza granted the request and remanded Opondo to Luzira Prison until August 5, 2026, when he is expected to reappear in court as investigations continue.
Dr. Tanga Odoi, the complainant in the case, was present during the proceedings.
The case stems from complaints by Dr. Odoi, who has previously accused Opondo of using his social media platforms to publish content that allegedly damaged his reputation.
The prosecution maintains that the disputed posts included personal information and images published without the complainant’s consent, forming the basis of the charges now before the court.
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