A Ugandan TikTok content creator has been sent to Luzira prison after being charged with allegedly posting a defamatory video implicating the head of the External Security Organisation (ESO), Ambassador Joseph Ocwet, in land fraud.
Benson Muyingo, 32, widely known on social media as Benson Pro UG, appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. The case was heard by senior principal magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko.
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Prosecutors claim that in July 2025, Muyingo, along with unidentified individuals, used his TikTok platform to upload a video accusing Ambassador Ocwet of participating in land grabbing and fraudulent dealings in the Kasenyi Bendegere area.
The video, which appeared on the account Benson Pro UG Official, reportedly described the ESO director general as being complicit in land-related corruption. The prosecution argued that the allegations were intended to damage Ambassador Ocwet’s reputation—an offence under Uganda’s Computer Misuse Act, which prohibits the publication of false, malicious, or defamatory content through electronic means.
Muyingo denied the charges and told the court he had submitted sureties to support his application for bail. However, the magistrate postponed the decision, citing the absence of the state attorney, who was attending to other duties at City Hall Court.
He was remanded to Luzira prison until 12 August 2025, when the court is expected to resume his bail hearing.
A resident of Mutundwe in Rubaga Division, Muyingo identifies as a Muganda by tribe and an Anglican by faith. His TikTok channel has gained popularity for outspoken commentary on politics and governance, placing him among a growing number of Ugandan content creators facing legal action under the country’s controversial digital communication laws.
The case adds to the ongoing debate over digital expression and the enforcement of the Computer Misuse Act, which critics say is increasingly being used to stifle dissent on social media platforms.
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