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- Dec 16, 2025
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The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's Court has dismissed four charges under the Computer Misuse Act against prominent city lawyer Male Mabirizi Kiwanuka, following guidance from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Presiding Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa dismissed the charges after Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka presented a nolle prosequi, indicating that the State had discontinued the proceedings. Birivumbuka explained that the decision was influenced by the recent Constitutional Court ruling that nullified certain provisions of the Computer Misuse Act, alongside advice from the Attorney General.
However, the victory, for Mabirizi, was short-lived. Shortly after the withdrawal, the prosecution filed a fresh set of three charges under different legal provisions, prompting Mabirizi to decline taking a plea, and the court deferred the matter. The case has been adjourned to April 15, when Mabirizi is expected to respond to the new charges.
Mabirizi is held back by a court bailiff as he reacts to the charges in court (Image courtesy of Daily Monitor)
The first two counts concern allegedly publishing false information under Regulation 110(e) of the Uganda Communications (Licensing) Regulations, 2019. According to the prosecution, Mabirizi used his TikTok account (@male.mabirizi), accessed via an Airtel Uganda SIM, to post audio-visual content in January 2026 claiming that Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo and Justice Ssekaana were conmen, fraudsters, and corrupt—statements the State alleges are untrue.
The third count accuses Mabirizi of unauthorized broadcasting under Sections 28(1) and (2) of the Uganda Communications Act, alleging that he aired content on TikTok without a license from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
Legal analysts note that while the withdrawal of the initial charges marks a procedural victory for Mabirizi, the introduction of new charges underscores the prosecution’s determination to maintain a legal case against him, despite the collapse of the earlier Computer Misuse Act claims.
Source- Daily Monitor
