Musician arrested over song disturbing Musevenis peace

Two Ugandan artists were arrested for reportedly producing, recording and distributing a song attacking and “disturbing the peace” of President Yoweri Museveni.

David Mugema, a musician, and producer Jonah Muwanguzi were accused of composing and electronically distributing a song titled ‘Wumula Mzee’ (take a rest old man) between 2015 and 2017.

They were charged with two counts of offensive communication under section 25 and 21 of the Computer Misuse Act of 2011.

Mugema and Muwanguzi denied the charges before Presiding Grade One Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu on Tuesday (December 5).

They requested for bail through their lawyer Abdallah Kiwanuka but were denied.

Magistrate Kamasanyu opted for a postponement instead, saying she would hear their bail application on Wednesday. She alluded this to the absence of a prosecutor from the Uganda Communications Commission.

“Hearing this bail application without a prosecutor may occasion injustice since they will not be heard to tell us the state of the inquiries in the case,” she said.

The two were remanded at Luzira Prison in Jinja.