This archive report was first published on 3 August 2019.
On August 1, 2019, a court in Uganda found Stella Nyanzi, a university lecturer and researcher, guilty of cyber harassment under the country's computer-misuse law. The offense carries a sentence of three years or a fine of 1.4 million shillings (approximately Ksh 39,000).
Nyanzi's conviction stems from a Facebook post last year in which she insulted President Museveni with profanity. The post was widely shared by her followers.
Joan Nyanyuki, director for East Africa at human rights pressure group Amnesty International, called the verdict 'outrageous' and said it demonstrates the government's intolerance of criticism.
Amnesty International has urged the Ugandan authorities to scrap the Computer Misuse Act, which has been used to harass and intimidate government critics.
President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, has been accused of becoming increasingly intolerant of dissent as resistance to his rule grows.
