DPP Slaps Fresh Charges Against Mabirizi
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has filed fresh charges of publishing fake news against jailed lawyer Male Mabirizi, shortly after withdrawing earlier charges under the now-nullified Computer Misuse Act.
Mabirizi was on Wednesday produced before Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court on a production warrant, where Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka informed the court that the DPP had dropped the initial charges following the Constitutional Court decision of March 17th, 2026.
Birivumbuka said the Attorney General had guided that prosecutions under the nullified law be halted and Parliament advised to “go back to the drawing board,” prompting the withdrawal of charges of hate speech and malicious information. However, immediately after dropping the charges, the prosecution introduced a new charge sheet containing three counts of publishing fake news contrary to Regulation 110(e) of the Uganda Communications Regulations, as well as broadcasting without a licence.
Prosecution alleges that in January 2026, Mabirizi used his TikTok account to publish audio-visual content accusing senior judicial officers, including Chief Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija and Justice Musa Ssekaana, of being “conmen” and “fraudsters,” claims the state says were false. He is also accused of operating without a licence from the Uganda Communications Commission.
Mabirizi declined to take a plea, arguing that the new charges amount to double jeopardy since the previous ones had been nullified. He also accused Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa of bias and asked her to step down, citing personal differences and lack of jurisdiction. The court advised him to file written submissions on the matter, but Mabirizi protested, saying he could not do so while in prison and demanded to present oral arguments.
After a heated exchange in court, the Chief Magistrate remanded Mabirizi until April 15th, 2026, when a ruling on her recusal application will be delivered. Mabirizi has since threatened not to return before the same magistrate. Mabirizi’s lawyers, led by Uganda Law Society Vice President Anthony Asiimwe, have criticized both the court and the DPP, describing the fresh charges as “weak, repetitive, and based on the same facts,” arguing they amount to double jeopardy and undermine freedom of expression.
This is not the first time Mabirizi has clashed with the judiciary. In 2022, he was fined Shs300 million for contempt of court by Justice Musa Ssekaana over social media attacks on judicial officers and later served an 18-month jail term for related offences.
Birivumbuka said the Attorney General had guided that prosecutions under the nullified law be halted and Parliament advised to “go back to the drawing board,” prompting the withdrawal of charges of hate speech and malicious information. However, immediately after dropping the charges, the prosecution introduced a new charge sheet containing three counts of publishing fake news contrary to Regulation 110(e) of the Uganda Communications Regulations, as well as broadcasting without a licence.
Prosecution alleges that in January 2026, Mabirizi used his TikTok account to publish audio-visual content accusing senior judicial officers, including Chief Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija and Justice Musa Ssekaana, of being “conmen” and “fraudsters,” claims the state says were false. He is also accused of operating without a licence from the Uganda Communications Commission.
Mabirizi declined to take a plea, arguing that the new charges amount to double jeopardy since the previous ones had been nullified. He also accused Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa of bias and asked her to step down, citing personal differences and lack of jurisdiction. The court advised him to file written submissions on the matter, but Mabirizi protested, saying he could not do so while in prison and demanded to present oral arguments.
After a heated exchange in court, the Chief Magistrate remanded Mabirizi until April 15th, 2026, when a ruling on her recusal application will be delivered. Mabirizi has since threatened not to return before the same magistrate. Mabirizi’s lawyers, led by Uganda Law Society Vice President Anthony Asiimwe, have criticized both the court and the DPP, describing the fresh charges as “weak, repetitive, and based on the same facts,” arguing they amount to double jeopardy and undermine freedom of expression.
This is not the first time Mabirizi has clashed with the judiciary. In 2022, he was fined Shs300 million for contempt of court by Justice Musa Ssekaana over social media attacks on judicial officers and later served an 18-month jail term for related offences.
Mao Reveals Cordial Ties with Speaker Among Despite Political Differences
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, has called for civility i…
Court of Appeal Orders Release of Mukono Aggravated Robbery Convict
The Court of Appeal in Kampala has ordered the immediate release of Musa Nsubuga after overturning his 20-year sentence for aggravated robbery, ruling that he was a minor at the time of the offence.
