A 20-year-old Senior Six candidate, Edison Ssemugenyi, has been handed a six-month jail term after admitting to circulating false and offensive content online about President Yoweri Museveni and the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Ssemugenyi appeared before the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court, where prosecutors said he posted misleading claims about the president’s health and made disparaging remarks about Gen. Muhoozi on social media last month. The content, shared widely on TikTok and other platforms, drew significant attention and led to his arrest shortly after he had completed only two Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exam papers.

In court, Ssemugenyi pleaded guilty to two counts under the Computer Misuse Act. While entering his plea, he acknowledged publishing the posts and asked the magistrate for leniency. The court, however, held that his actions risked causing public alarm and displayed disrespect toward high-ranking national leaders.

“The court must discourage the misuse of online platforms to spread falsehoods and harmful speech,” the magistrate said while issuing the six-month sentence.