A TikToker, Hassan Nsubuga, has been remanded to Luzira Prison on charges of cyber harassment, unlawful obtaining and disclosure of personal data, and cyberstalking of ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Diana Atwine and Lands minister Judith Nabakooba.
Nsubuga, 40, a resident of Kisubi in Entebbe Municipality, is accused of using a mobile phone to publish electronic communications on his TikTok account in which he accused Atwine of stealing ministry funds and contributing to the deterioration of medical services, which he claimed had resulted in the deaths of several Ugandans.
According to the charge sheet, Nsubuga also allegedly accused Nabakooba of misappropriating ministry funds, creating fraudulent land titles and frustrating land-related court cases involving poor people.
He reportedly claimed that these actions had caused suffering among Ugandans. He is also accused of calling on members of the public to rise against Atwine and Nabakooba, arrest them and identify their personal properties for sale.
Prosecutors contend that the statements amounted to threats of physical harm against the two officials and their properties. Nsubuga faces six counts: two of cyber harassment, two of unlawful obtaining and disclosure of personal data, and two of cyberstalking.
The alleged offences were committed in September 2026 in Kampala and surrounding areas.
He denied all the charges when he appeared before City Hall senior grade one magistrate Edgar Karakire this morning. The cyber harassment and personal data charges relate to the alleged publications concerning Atwine and Nabakooba.
The cyberstalking counts accuse Nsubuga of repeatedly using electronic communications to contact, track or harass the two officials, allegedly disturbing or attempting to disturb their peace, quiet or right to privacy without a legitimate communication purpose.
Court records indicate that the case was initially registered at Kira Road Police Station before being brought to court. Prosecutor Benjamin Amanya informed the court that investigations were complete.
Nsubuga applied for bail, citing the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, but the court rejected his application, ruling that his proposed sureties were not substantial.
They included his friend, Abbey Twaha Kaddu, a shop attendant in Seeta, and his sister, Josephine Namatovu, a shop owner in the same area. The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that Kaddu did not have a close affiliation with Nsubuga, while Namatovu had not presented a trading licence to establish ownership of her alleged business.
In his ruling, Karakire noted that the sureties resided outside the jurisdiction of the City Hall Magistrate’s court and had not demonstrated sufficient influence over Nsubuga to ensure that he returned to court whenever required.
The court also observed that the sureties had not adequately established the nature and location of their businesses, information it considered necessary to facilitate their tracing should Nsubuga abscond.
Karakire advised Nsubuga to secure more suitable sureties and reapply for bail if he wished. Nsubuga was remanded to Luzira Prison until November 5, 2026.
He is among several Ugandans who have faced criminal charges over their online communications. About seven years ago, Brian Isiko, then a student at YMCA, was charged with cyberstalking former Kabarole District Woman MP Sylvia Rwabwogo. He was subsequently sentenced to two years in prison.
Other cases include that of former Makerere University academic Dr Stellah Nyanzi, who faced charges of offensive communication and cyber harassment, and TikToker Ibrahim Musana, popularly known as Pressure 24/7, who also faced allegations of cyber harassment following a series of social media posts targeting the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, former speaker of parliament Anita Among and minister Joyce Ssebugwawo.