Uganda court remands woman for criticizing president

By Halima Athumani

KAMPALA, Uganda

A female university researcher was remanded in custody on charges of cyber harassment and offensive communication against the country’s President, Yoweri Museveni.

Stella Nyanzi from the Makerere University was arrested on Friday last week and appeared before a court on Monday where charges were read against her.

The state attorney told the court that Nyanzi on Feb. 28 used a computer to post an offensive message about the president on her Facebook page. “She made a suggestion referring President Yoweri Museveni as among others to a pair of buttocks, a suggestion which is obscene,” the attorney said.

The court was told the accused willfully and repeatedly used electronic communication to post offensive messages on her Facebook. “She transmitted over the internet to disturb or attempted to disturb the peace, quiet or right of privacy of President Museveni with no purpose of legitimate communication.”

The State Attorney, Jonathan Muwaganya, asked the court to submit Nyanzi to a mental checkup and treatment.

However, her lawyers led by Nicholas Opio objected to the state attorney’s request and urged the court to not subject Nyanzi to any treatment while in detention.

“Dr. Stella has been involved in demonstrations as mere exercise of the fundamental right to a peaceful demonstration, to characterize them as evidence of insanity is itself insanity,” Opio said.

But when Magistrate James Eremye asked Nyanzi whether she pleads guilty to the offenses she instead questioned the court about who was offended and pleaded not guilty.

The Makerere researcher will return to court on April 25 to apply for bail.

Nyanzi’s troubles started in February this year when she criticized on Facebook the education minister, who is also the wife of President Museveni.