Journalist and political commentator Timothy Kalyegira appeared before Kira Magistrates Court on Monday after his whereabouts remained unknown for several days, with his lawyer confirming that he is facing charges under Uganda’s Computer Misuse Act.
Kalyegira had not been seen since Friday, raising concern among family members, colleagues and friends after his mobile phone reportedly became unreachable and his whereabouts could not be established over the weekend.
His appearance at Kira Magistrates Court on Monday morning ended the uncertainty surrounding his disappearance, with proceedings commencing shortly after his arrival.
Human rights lawyer Tumusiime Kato, who was present at the court, confirmed that Kalyegira had been charged with offences under the Computer Misuse Act linked to content allegedly published on his X account.
“Colleagues, @TimKalyegira is now at Kira Magistrates Court on charges related to Computer Misuse. We should all stand in solidarity with him,” Kato posted on X.
In an earlier update, Kato had informed the public that Kalyegira had arrived at the court and was expected to take plea.
By press time, the prosecution had not publicly disclosed the specific social media posts that form the basis of the charges.
Kalyegira, known for his commentary on governance, politics and security affairs, has in recent months written extensively about Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and several high-profile security-related incidents.
Neither the Uganda Police Force nor the Judiciary had issued an official statement regarding the circumstances surrounding his arrest or the charges by the time this report was filed.
The case comes months after the Constitutional Court, in March 2026, nullified key provisions of the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, 2022. The court ruled that Parliament passed the amendments without the constitutionally required quorum, rendering those provisions invalid.
Following that decision, only the original Computer Misuse Act of 2011 remains operational, covering offences such as unauthorized access to computer systems, electronic fraud, hacking and other cybercrime-related offences.
This is not Kalyegira’s first encounter with the courts. Between 2010 and 2011, he was charged with sedition and criminal libel over articles published on his platform, including commentary relating to the July 2010 Kampala bombings. Those charges were eventually dismissed in 2015.
His latest prosecution has attracted attention from journalists, media freedom advocates and digital rights campaigners, some of whom argue that the continued application of the Computer Misuse Act in cases involving online commentary raises concerns about freedom of expression and press freedom.
Court proceedings were still ongoing by press time.
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