Lawyer Activist Mabirizi Remanded to Prison Over Alleged Online Attacks on Judiciary
Prominent lawyer and activist Hassan Male Mabirizi Kiwanuka has been remanded to Luzira Prison until February 18, 2026, after pleading not guilty to charges of cyber harassment and hate speech against senior judicial officers.
Mabirizi appeared before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on Monday, February 3, 2026, facing prosecution under the Computer Misuse Act. The state alleges that in January 2026, he used his TikTok account, @malemabirizi, to post videos that maliciously attacked Chief Justice Flavian Zeija and Justice Musa Ssekaana.
Details of the Charges
Prosecutors told the court that Mabirizi’s posts contained derogatory and false statements, allegedly labeling Chief Justice Zeija a “conman” and “fraudster,” while also making disparaging remarks about Justice Ssekaana. The charges, under Sections 28 and 26 of the Computer Misuse Act, accuse him of spreading malicious information and hate speech intended to demean the judges and stir public hatred against them.
The magistrate denied him bail, ordering his remand at Luzira Prison. The case is scheduled to return to court on February 18.
Background and Reactions
This case adds to Mabirizi’s long history of legal confrontations with the state and judiciary. In 2022, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for contempt of court by Justice Ssekaana following similar online criticisms. He served part of that sentence before his release.
Outside the courtroom, some supporters condemned the arrest as politically motivated, arguing it targets his consistent criticism of government institutions and officials. Human rights advocates have pointed to the case as part of a broader trend of shrinking civic space, citing recent detentions of activists and government critics.
Authorities maintain that the law applies equally to all citizens and emphasize that freedom of expression does not extend to defamatory or hateful attacks against public officials.
The remand underscores ongoing tensions between vocal government critics and state institutions in Uganda, setting the stage for a closely watched legal proceeding later this month.
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