Lira City Man Arrested for Allegedly Insulting President Museveni.
Police in Lira City are holding 39-year-old Fred Okuja following his arrest on charges of offensive communication and insulting the President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
06/October/2025
by Y.Emma#lcctv reporter
LIRA, UGANDA – Police in Lira City are holding 39-year-old Fred Okuja following his arrest on charges of offensive communication and insulting the President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Preliminary reports from the North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson, the suspect is alleged to have made derogatory remarks about President Museveni in a public setting.
While the exact nature and context of the alleged insult have not been fully disclosed by authorities, sources indicate the incident may have involved a verbal altercation. The case is being investigated under Uganda’s laws against offensive communication, which have frequently been used to prosecute individuals accused of disrespecting the Head of State.
“The suspect, Fred Okuja, was taken into custody to help with investigations. He is being held on charges related to offensive communication contrary to the Computer Misuse Act, 2011, as amended,” stated a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not authorized to speak to the press.
The arrest highlights the ongoing application of Uganda’s stringent laws on speech concerning the presidency. The Computer Misuse Act, particularly after its 2022 amendment, prescribes severe penalties for individuals who use digital platforms to “disturb the peace of another” or make “derogatory or divisive statements.” Critics, including human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Chapter Four Uganda, have repeatedly labeled these laws as tools to suppress dissent and freedom of expression. If charged and convicted, Okuja could face a significant fine, a prison sentence, or both.
Fred Okuja is currently detained at Lira Central Police Station. He is expected to be processed and produced in court, likely at the Lira Magistrate’s Court, within the legally mandated 48 hours to be formally charged.
Attempts to get a comment from Okuja’s family or a legal representative were unsuccessful at the time of this reporting. Our newsroom will provide updates as more information becomes available from the police and the courts.
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