Edison Ssemugenyi having his time in court before he was sentenced
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I A court in Kampala has handed Edison Ssemugenyi, a 20-year-old Senior Six student a six-month jail sentence after he admitted to sharing false information about President Yoweri Museveni and Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Ssemugenyi appeared before the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to two counts under the Computer Misuse Act. Prosecution told the court that the student used his social media account last month to claim that President Museveni was seriously ill and also posted insulting remarks about Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the First Son.
The posts quickly became viral on social media.
Ssemugenyi was arrested soon after making the claims, at a time when he had written only two of his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations.
While asking for a lighter sentence, Ssemugenyi said he regretted his actions. The magistrate, however, noted that spreading false statements about national leaders can mislead the public and create unnecessary tension. He was then sent to begin his sentence at Luzira Prison.
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