“Museveni Burnt A Train Full Of People In Mukura & Killed Several Others Near Soroti University” TikToker Who Faked Anita Among Audio Clip Sentenced

Makerere University student Elson Tumwine has been sentenced to two months in Luzira Prison for posting a TikTok video containing false and inflammatory claims about President Yoweri Museveni and Speaker of Parliament Anita Among.

Tumwine, who uploaded the clip in May 2025 on his account @elsontumwine, was convicted under Uganda’s Computer Misuse Act, which criminalizes the online spread of harmful, misleading, or false information.

His case has ignited debate over free expression and government limits on social media content.

In the video, Tumwine accused Museveni of orchestrating the 1989 Mukura massacre in Teso—a claim dismissed by historical records—and alleged he was behind the burning of a train and killings near Soroti University.

He also accused Among of “selective reconciliation,” suggesting political favoritism. None of these allegations have been substantiated.

Police opened the case under number Entebbe CBR 817/2025, leading to Tumwine’s arrest and conviction. Authorities argued the viral nature of the video made it an attempt to damage the reputations of two of Uganda’s most prominent political figures and to disturb public order.

The Computer Misuse Act has increasingly been used to police online speech, particularly content critical of the government or senior officials.

Supporters say it safeguards national stability; critics argue it stifles dissent and chills public debate.

Tumwine’s sentence underscores the growing legal risks faced by Ugandans—especially young people—who use platforms like TikTok to engage in political discussion.

His case has sharpened tensions between the government and a digitally active youth eager to challenge the political status quo.

As he begins his prison term, the incident serves both as a cautionary tale and a flashpoint in Uganda’s ongoing debate over the limits of free expression in the digital age.