A Ugandan TikToker, Henry Nyanzi, has been arrested for posting a video that insulted former Minister for Water, Ronald Kibuule, and his family.
Nyanzi, using the TikTok handle ‘henricbrown,’ was detained at Mukono Police Station after making allegations about Kibuule, accusing him of land grabbing and suggesting that his family had been cursed.
In the viral video, Nyanzi claimed that Kibuule had wrongfully taken land from a village, although he did not specify its location.
He went on to allege that villagers had used witchcraft to cast a spell on Kibuule’s family, which, he said, caused the tragic drowning of his children in a swimming pool.
Nyanzi further claimed that the same spell led to Kibuule losing his parliamentary seat in the last election.
Appearing visibly animated in the video, Nyanzi issued a warning that similar spells could be cast on other government leaders.
He was filmed surrounded by a group of young men sitting on eucalyptus logs.
A police officer involved in the investigation, who requested anonymity, confirmed that Nyanzi had been arrested but said that formal charges had not yet been filed.
When contacted, Ronald Kibuule described the video as “disturbing” and said it had upset his family.“I’ve seen the video, and I appreciate the police for taking action,” Kibuule said.
“I plan to visit the police station to follow up on the matter personally.”
The former minister also urged social media users to exercise caution when posting content online, warning of the potential legal consequences.
The incident highlights the growing concerns over the use of social media platforms and their impact on public figures, as well as the challenges of regulating online content in Uganda.
Similar incident
Earlier this year, another TikToker, Ibrahim Musana, known online as “Pressure Pressure,” was arrested in February for defaming Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi of Buganda.
Musana had used his social media platforms to share over 50 videos containing abusive and defamatory content directed at the Kabaka and other officials of the Buganda Kingdom.
He was charged with hate speech, incitement to violence, and misuse of social media under Uganda’s Computer Misuse Act.
His arrest followed a wave of complaints from Buganda Kingdom supporters who found his posts offensive and disrespectful.
Social media misuse is becoming an increasing concern in Uganda, with authorities emphasising the need for accountability in online communicationsEND
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