Tweep becomes first culprit of Computer Misuse Act for 'joke' about Among

The accused, a 26-year-old shop attendant who has been identified as John Sentamu alias Kelly Slender, if convicted is looking at spending a year in prison or a fine of Shs480,000, or both.

According to his lawyer, Jeremiah Keeya Mwanje, Sentamu was then taken before the Buganda Road Court in September before he was sent to Luzira to await trial.

However, when he was brought for trial yesterday, the magistrate dismissed his case without a clear reason and denied him bail.

“The magistrate refused to hear the bail application and sent him back to jail until October 27. We were not given any reasons as to why the case could not proceed,” Mwanje said.

It is said that between July and September, Sentamu, under his twitter handle@JOHNKELLYTON 5 and user name Kelly Slender, made fun of the Speaker's personality when she posted pictures of her visit to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis two months ago. He then continued to disturb her peace with no purpose of justifiable communication.

Sentamu's trial has been postponed to October 27, 2022.

The case comes at a time when the Computer Misuse Act, 2022, is being labelled as a weapon against freedom of speech and expression.

The Computer Misuse Act

The highly contested law was approved by President Museveni a few weeks ago. It has provisions, including: criminalising unauthorised access to information, sending unsolicited information, publishing photos of children without parental consent, publishing false and malicious information and publishing unauthorised information on the internet.